Since 1958 days with heavy precipitation have increased over the region by 31 percent. Climate models predict this trend to continue in the Great Lakes, with wild swings between heavy rain events and intensely dry conditions.
As the climate changes we can expect more river events like these:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mayor George Heartwell declared a state of emergency as more flooding is expected. The water is predicted to crest at 22 feet.
Even the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls are going to have to find a temporary place to bout, or will need to put on flippers instead of skates. Their facility is now underwater.
East Lansing, Michigan
The Michigan State University Fight Song begins like this:
On the banks of the Red Cedar,
There’s a school that’s known to all; …
Right now, the banks of the Red Cedar and parts of Michigan State campus are underwater. The river crested at 7.9 feet Monday morning, above the 7-foot flood stage. Relating even more to the Fight Song – it is the athletic fields left waterlogged.
Chicago, Illinois
The Des Plaines River was twice its flood stage on Sunday. According to readings by the National Weather Service the river crested at 9.98 feet. The Des Plaines River is amongst these other rising rivers: Fox River, Rock River, DuPage River, the north branch of the Chicago River, and Salt Creek.
Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said
Based on the forecasting right now, we expect to meet and exceed flood levels—historic flood levels … So record flood stages are absolutely possible.
Flooding also required closure of several local forest preserves to the public. The Brookfield Zoo closed its gates for only the third time in its history.
Toledo, Ohio
Northwestern Ohio is experiencing a very wet April. Over the past weekend more than 2″ of rain fell in many parts of far northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan in a 48 hour period. The Maumee River is about a foot above flood stage at Defiance, and it is nearing its crest.
Spring Flood Risk Forecast
NOAA released a springtime flood risk map for the Great Lakes and the United States.
Want to know more about the impact heavy rain and flooding has on Great Lakes wildlife and what to do about it?
Learn more in this detailed report: Taken by Storm!
College students from the greater Grand Rapids are hoping to get the most out of their experience at the Power Shift conference this year and are coming together to consolidate their efforts and look to building local campaigns and projects that will make the city a more sustainable and green place. The event this Friday represents the first step toward this goal.
Grand Rapids second ward city commissioner Ruth Kelly will be starting out the event with some inspirational words and ideas for how students in the area can get involved with the city’s next green project. Group breakouts immediately following the speakers will allow attendees to talk further about their goals for the city and what skills and knowledge they hope to bring back from the Power Shift conference.
During the last part of the evening, all students planning to attend Power Shift 2011 will get together to go over logistics of getting to the event together as well as discussing important next steps to keep the relationships and networking ties strong as the city moves forward.
Attendees of this city-wide event will include students from Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Kalamazoo College, and of course, Aquinas college.
The Power Shift Campus Coordinator at Aquinas College, Bethany Horning, has been working hard to put this event together and said “Collaboration is essential to the future of a greener community. I am excited to meet with everyone on Friday!”
So, if you’re from Western Michigan, make your way to Aquinas’ Campus this Friday evening to come together with college students and community members and work toward a greener Grand Rapids!