Check out our complete coverage of safety, environmental and fun Lake Michigan stories.
Drive along Sheridan Road and it's hard not to be in awe of Lake Michigan at some point. Lake Michigan, one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water, offers incredible environmental insight, as well as good summer fun. But at times, the lake can be dangerous. To keep you in the loop, we've compiled our coverage:
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Half of the 62 Great Lakes drownings this summer have occurred in Lake Michigan.
Last weekend marked the highest number of rip tide-related deaths across the Great Lakes Region for 2011. Five people drowned in Lake Michigan, including 14-year-old Tristan Shambee, between Aug. 26 and 28, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP). In light of the recent deaths and the upcoming Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a general safety reminder Wednesday. Rip currents "are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from the shore," according to the National Weather Service. "Rip currents are a lot stronger than other waves and not as easy as to see in lakes as they are in the ocean," said Dave Benjamin, class organizer and media GLSRP, told Patch. "In the Great Lakes you’ve got waves every three …
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Evanston boy dies in Lake Michigan while swimming in an unpatrolled area
This article has been updated as of 10:36 a.m. on Aug. 28. An unidentified 14-year-old Evanston boy drowned Saturday afternoon near Gillson Park in Lake Michigan, according to Wilmette Police Chief Brian King. The teen "had been swimming off of the pier with several friends when a wave pulled him under and he did not resurface," according to a Wilmette Police statement released late Saturday. Almost two hours after being called to the scene, officials found the boy "200 yards south of where he was last seen" and transported him to an Evanston Hospital. The teen was soon pronounced dead. His identity is being withheld and will be released after extended family have been notified, according to police. According to King, the boy and his …
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11:00 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thanks for the comment. I am working on a follow up on water safety. Could you share your photos with me at? Would you also be available for an interview? Please email me at andrea.hart@patch.com. more ›
The National Weather Service alert is in effect until 10 p.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service issued a moderate Rip Current Risk Alert Sunday for parts of Cook and Lake County that neighbor Lake Michigan. Strong winds and high waves have prompted the alert for Rip Currents which "are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from the shore," according to NWS. These kinds of currents occur at low spots in a sandbar or near jetties, as well as piers. Earlier: U.S. Coast Guard Says Foul Weather Ahead for Lake Michigan Swimmers If caught in a Rip Current, NWS advises to: "Remain calm and begin to swim parallel to shore. Once you are away fromt he force of the Rip Current begin to swim back to the beach. Do not attempt to swim direclty against the Rip Current. Even a strong swimmer can become exhausted…
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The U.S. Coast Guard issued an alert late Tuesday afternoon.
Keen on diving into Lake Michigan this week? The U.S. Coast Guard is advising swimmers to take caution in light of "very strong winds and dangerous sea conditions," according to a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "It's imperative that those who recreate on the Great Lakes exhibit personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of others," said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Brady, commanding officer of Sector Field Office Grand Haven, Mich, in the press release. “Rip tides and rip currents can develop with little notice, and there are no visual indicators of these from the beach. Be sure to look for warning flags and signs indicating when you should stay out of the water.” (Earlier: The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a group of swimmers Aug. 3.) …
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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced two bills Sunday that will examine the alternative energy source.
Gov. Pat Quinn announced Sunday two new laws that could encourage the expansion of wind energy efforts in Illinois, BusinessWeek reports. One of the bills calls for the creation of the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory Council to study wind energy along Lake Michigan, while the other will allow wind farm districts to be established in state counties. North Shore politicians State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Sen. Jeff Schoenberg sponsored the initiative to legislation that creates a council. The council "will be chaired by the state Department of Natural Resources director and will include members representing state agencies as well as environmental, tourism, education and energy interests," according to the article. (…
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5:26 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I've seen these wind farms driving down Interstate 65. They are huge, ugly and don't seem spin very much. It would be terrible if wind farms were allowed to be constructed on the lake. It would forever change optics and natural beauty of the lake. There is varying proof of whether wind farms are actually worth it. Further, there are reports of loud noise emanating from wind farms in some … more ›
Last week's heating oil spill made its way into Lake Michigan and temporarily closed two beaches.
After last week's oil spill into Lake Michigan, the Village of Winnetka calculated costs for the clean-up at $25,000. In the past few days, the number has risen to at least $38,000, according to the Chicago Tribune. Earlier: Winnetka Finishes Oil Spill Clean-Up "Winnetka is seeking at least $38,000 from a resident whose contractor ruptured an underground heating oil tank, sending the contaminant into Lake Michigan through the village’s storm sewer and causing two beaches to close," the Chicago Tribune reports. Steve Saunders, the public works director, said that the village is brainstorming ways to get rid of the oil. Saunders also said that talks with the homeowner have begun as they work through the "spiller pays" ordinance that requires…
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Bans are in effect until tests indicate bacteria levels are low.
A "precautionary swim ban" has been put into effect along Lake Michigan beaches Saturday following an historic overnight rainfall, according to WGN TV. The ban has been issued because The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has opened locks to reverse the flow of the Chicago River. As a result, storm water "mixed with sewage may be released into Lake Michigan," the report states. Meanwhile, "the Chicago Park District will sample the water, twice daily, until they get the safe and appropriate results need to lift the swim ban." If tests show low levels of bacteria, then the ban will be lifted. Read WGN's full story. Check back with Patch for more updates.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency visited two Winnetka beaches off Lake Michigan on Tuesday.
Closed earlier this summer for water contamination, two Winnetka beaches closed on Tuesday due to a heating oil spill.* According to the Chicago Tribune, the closures developed due to "an unspecified amount of gasoline poured through the village's storm sewer into the lake." The two beaches are Elder Lane Beach and the Centennial Dog Beach. Read more: Patch coverage on poor water quality for these two beaches, and a pending proposal to close a Glencoe beach. Editor's Note: Check back with Patch for developments on the story. As of publishing time, the source of the spill had not been verified. *Correction on 7/20 at 6:45 a.m.: The spill's substance was heating oil, not gasoline.
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Temps in the North Chicago Suburbs could climb to the upper 90s Wednesday and Thursday.
A special heat watch has been issued for the Chicago Metropolitan Area from early Wednesday through Thursday, according to The Chicago Tribune. Luckily for Tuesday, North Chicago Suburb residents along Lake Michigan will temperatures reach the lower or middle 80s. "A cool front sliding down the western shores of Lake Michigan will turn winds easterly today, lowering temperature and humidity levels for communities and neighborhoods within a few miles of the lakeshore," according to the Trib. Meanwhile temps for the next two days are expected to climb to the upper 90s, with the Heat Index potentially reaching 106 degrees Farenheit tomorrow. Stay tuned to Patch for more on the July 2011 Heat Wave for the North Chicago Suburbs. Read the …
Dave Benjamin
3:52 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
1. The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class; 2. The “Third Coast Ocean Force” Rip Current Awareness PSA Campaign. 1. “SURFBOARD RESCUE TECHNIQUES” CLASS The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class is currently FREE and OPEN to the public – Friends, Family, Employees, Employers, Surfers, SUP’ers, Kayakers, Professional Water Rescue Personnel, Social Groups of People, etc.The “Surfboard Rescue … more ›