Posts

Sleeping Bear researchers to discuss DNA methods for monitoring beach water quality

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Historically, water quality monitoring programs have relied on traditional techniques, such as culturing microorganisms (e.g., E. coli, enterococci) in the laboratory, to evaluate if beaches are safe for swimming, surfing, and other water-exposure recreational activities. However, the significant time-lapse between sample collection and results, typically 18 hours or longer, can result in inaccurate management decisions due to rapidly changing water quality conditions. This results in either unnecessary beach closures or beaches open to swimming when the water quality is actually poor. Recent advancements in DNA-based technology are increasingly becoming indispensable tools in environmental applications, including water quality monitoring. With these techniques, water quality results are achievable on the same day of sampling, within hours of sample collection.

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Storm Signs

Two, new 16” x 16” signs will be placed along the Heritage Trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, using a combination of texts and photographs “to explain what happened in August 2015,” said Leonard Marszalek, manager of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes’ Heritage Trail.

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InstaMeet at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

On Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m., Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host a free InstaMeet event to celebrate National Trails Day. An InstaMeet is an interactive, in-park event, allowing Instagram users (IGers) to meet up, take photos, and get to know each other. Once the IGers meet, they will accompany a park ranger on a nature hike.

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Step Back in Time to 1916 at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th birthday by joining in the annual Glen Haven Days historic festival. The event will be held Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Glen Haven historic village and United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS) Station at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The festivities will include hands-on activities and costumed reenactments.

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New in town: Changed forest, Northwoods Home & Gift, realtors rotate

What’s new in town in 2016 — particularly if you haven’t visited Glen Arbor since last July — are the forests around the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. They are completely different. That’s because of the Aug. 2, 2015, megastorm, which packed “straight line” winds of 100 miles per hour, leveled thousands of hardwood trees across Alligator Hill, along the east side of Big Glen Lake, across Leelanau County and on Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City. The storm was the most dramatic thing to hit Glen Arbor in modern times, and it changed the experience of visiting our beloved National Lakeshore for generations to come.

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Researcher to discuss Avian Botulism at Sleeping Bear Dunes

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Over the past decade, there has been an increased incidence of bird deaths in Lake Michigan due to Type E avian botulism. Over 6,500 dead birds have been documented within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore alone. Scientists from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have been conducting a collaborative research project to determine the causes of these botulism outbreaks — work that includes underwater research in Good Harbor Bay.

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“Lift Every Voice: The Black Experience in the Heartland!”

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore welcomes the Bright Star Touring Theatre of Arden, North Carolina, to the area for two free performances of “Lift Every Voice: The Black Experience in the Heartland.” Everyone is invited to experience this very special production on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the State Theatre in Traverse City, Michigan or at a 6 p.m. performance at the Mills Community House in Benzonia. This play is for everyone, but will be especially enjoyed by youth studying American history.

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Introducing Sleeping Bear’s new leader

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Late last week the National Park Service (NPS) named Scott Tucker as the new superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. He will begin his assignment in mid-June. The Sun submitted the following questions to Scott Tucker. Here are his responses.

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Educators: Spend your summer as a teacher-ranger-teacher at Sleeping Bear Dunes

From staff reports Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is recruiting one Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) to spend the summer in the park learning about the resource and developing education programs. The application deadline is May 16, 2016. The TRT program is a professional development opportunity for educators from K-12 schools to learn about National Park Service education […]

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National Park to name new Sleeping Bear superintendent by late May

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The National Park Service will name the next superintendent to run Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by the end of May — if not sooner — Park spokesperson Christine Powell told the Glen Arbor Sun today. Powell works out of the National Park’s Midwest Regional office in Omaha, Neb.

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