A science review has prompted state officials to sharply increase the number and scope of fish consumption advisories related to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a chemical that is part of the dangerous PFAS family of “forever chemicals.” The advisories encourage Michiganders to limit, or in some cases stop, eating some species of fish, depending on the… Read more »
Facing facts and moving forward: Notes from the 2025 State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference. On June 26, the State of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) conference, hosted by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), brought together researchers, agency staff, and community advocates working in one of Michigan’s most… Read more »
By Carrie La Seur, Legal Director — The late afternoon sun, hours from sunset as the days stretch out, promises the first true warmth of spring. It’s 5 p.m. on April 25, 2025, and I nestle into the snug seat of my red, white, and blue Jackson river kayak. The Alma impoundment, usually a green,… Read more »
New bills would help clean up, prevent environmental contamination June 11, 2025 Polluter accountability legislation, including Senate Bills 385, 368, 387, 391, 392, and 393, was introduced this week by State Senators. Several of the bills have already been introduced in the House as HB 4636-4640, and the remaining bills will be introduced this week…. Read more »
In April 2023, FLOW’s Dave Dempsey blogged about contamination at a quiet place called Sadony Bayou, north of White Lake along the Lake Michigan coastline, where lime piles and decades of industrial waste have decimated once-thriving habitat. The bayou doesn’t look like much from the road running by, but inside, it’s a struggling universe –… Read more »
Last week, Grand Traverse County took a major step forward in protecting its waters and residents by unanimously passing a countywide septic regulation. This landmark decision marks the first time the county has adopted rules to systematically evaluate septic systems near water bodies. While the regulation may appear modest in scope, its implications are profound…. Read more »
A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment system for homes that are not connected to a city sewer system. When regularly pumped and maintained, a septic system efficiently manages the wastewater produced in a house. These systems generally work very well, and are “out of sight, out of mind.” But when a septic system… Read more »
Fremont, Michigan is a rural community in west Michigan’s Newaygo County, about an hour north of Grand Rapids. Since 2012 it has been home to a huge anaerobic digester, owned since 2017 by the Delaware-incorporated company Generate Upcycle, part of multi-billion dollar “clean energy” investment firm Generate Capital. Anaerobic digesters use bacteria to decompose organic… Read more »
Early this winter, FLOW and students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) graduate program teamed up for a 16-month initiative to examine Michigan’s groundwater management and propose a statewide strategy to ensure long-term, sustainable groundwater governance. Flow Water Advocates is grateful to announce a $20,000 leadership gift in support of… Read more »
Recent PostsWhat one mother learned after losing her son to environmental cancer: Try.May 1, 2026Michigan’s wetlands face new threats after Earth Day hearingMay 5, 2026National Drinking Water Week 2026May 4, 2026What Enbridge Really Knows About the Risk of a <span class="search-everything-highlight-color" style="background-color:#faa500">Line</span> <span class="search-everything-highlight-color" style="background-color:#faa500">5</span> Rupture in the Straits of MackinacMay 17, 2024SCOTUS unanimous: Nessel… Read more »
