Great Lakes Now, Saving Whitefish and Navigating Niagara
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Jan. 11, at 11 AM
In this episode of Great Lakes Now, teaching Lake Whitefish to thrive like the old days, getting up close at Niagara Falls and The Catch!
Whitefish are in trouble. Can rivers save them?
In many areas of the Great Lakes, whitefish are struggling to maintain their population. Warming waters and invasive species are inhibiting whitefish spawning and keeping young whitefish from making it to adulthood. But biologists believe they can help bolster their numbers by returning them to their historic spawning runs.
Getting up close to Niagara Falls
The Maid of the Mist is one of the most popular attractions in Niagara Falls. In operation since the late 1800s, the tour boats now service 1.6 million passengers each year. The boats take passengers directly into the heart of the Horseshoe Falls to experience hundreds of thousands of gallons of water landing with 2500 tons of force.
In 2020, the Maid of the Mist launched two all-electric, zero-emission vessels. Benefits of the E-boats include no stinky diesel fumes and no engine noise. The nearly silent vessels allow guests to experience the river more fully, from the calls of shorebirds to the roar of the falls. However, the highly skilled boat captains wondered if the new electric vessels could handle the Niagara Gorge’s extreme conditions.
The Catch: News about the Lakes You Love
Keep up with the Great Lakes’ biggest issues. This episode, discover why PFAS levels in Lake Superior Smelt are lower than previously believed, learn how loons are affected by water clarity, and meet Monica Lewis-Patrick, president and CEO of We the People of Detroit.
