Matt Herbert
@matteherbert.bsky.social
140 followers 100 following 55 posts
Conservation Scientist @nature.org in Michigan; Great Lakes, conservation, fish, freshwater, biodiversity, nature, ecology, sustainability; Views expressed here are my own, and not of my employer or any other organization I'm associated with
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matteherbert.bsky.social
This massive restructuring of the Forest Service would vastly reduce capacity within the agency to protect & manage land/resources. It's also a shift in management away from western states. Public comment period ends Sept 30th. #conservation #outdoors #nature
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The dismantling of the US Forest Service is imminent
The public has less than a week remaining to comment on the administration's plans.
www.motherjones.com
matteherbert.bsky.social
There aren't very many large, contiguous roadless areas left in the US. And it turns out that 99% of Americans understand that and care that those lands remain roadless. I would have guessed #RoadlessAreas would be popular, but 99%?!?
#Conservation #Outdoors
www.outdoorlife.com/conservation...
More Than 99 Percent of Americans Disapprove of Roadless Rule Rollbacks, According to New Analysis
A public comment period for the planned rescission of the Roadless Rule ended Friday with more than 99 percent of comments opposing the move.
www.outdoorlife.com
matteherbert.bsky.social
Great day yesterday scouting sites with partners from Little Traverse Bay Band and Sault Tribe, in preparation for upcoming work this fall/winter, as part of our efforts to develop restoration strategies for tributary runs of Lake Whitefish. #GreatLakes
matteherbert.bsky.social
Michigan has hundreds of dams that are well past their projected lifetime and pose threats to public safety. Funding has been helping to remove the worst dams, but that funding may be drying up.
#PureMichigan #Rivers #Dams #PublicSafety
www.michiganpublic.org/environment-...
Deteriorating dams are being removed in Michigan. Will the money for that effort dry up?
A number of deteriorating dams have been torn down and streams restored. It's expensive, and Michigan's budget is facing challenges.
www.michiganpublic.org
Reposted by Matt Herbert
moreorloess.bsky.social
Annual flood series for the Milwaukee River at Milwaukee, just downstream of I-43 bridge, 1915-2023. Top of the scale is 20,000 cfs, flood of record was 18,200 cfs. At 2:30 AM this morning it was at 19700 cfs, at 9AM, 19300 cfs, off-scale (too high for the gage?) in between.
Reposted by Matt Herbert
lakemichigan13.bsky.social
Crazy rainfall event totals on the west coast 🌊🌊
matteherbert.bsky.social
New study shows that the contribution of Indigenous and community-governed lands are often overlooked or are undervalued in #biodiversity conservation assessments. These oversights can impact our goals and lead to lost opportunities.
#Indigenous #Conservation
www.nature.org/en-us/what-w...
Indigenous and Traditional Territories
A new study finds that undervaluing Indigenous and traditional territories could derail global conservation goals—and that local solutions are needed.
www.nature.org
matteherbert.bsky.social
It's really a question for @michiganegle.bsky.social, but I do know that there are coastal communities that are deeply engaged in Pathway's to Resilience. And I'm sure they will talk about some of those case studies during this webinar.
matteherbert.bsky.social
Live along the #GreatLakes coast in Michigan? Learn how the Michigan Coastal Management Program is helping coastal communities to be more environmentally/economically resilient and sustainable in an upcoming webinar.
#Michigan #PureMichigan
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...
Reminder to register for the August 12 webinar on the Michigan Coastal Management Program’s Pathway to Resilience
content.govdelivery.com
Reposted by Matt Herbert
nuphoto.com
I stumbled across a few amazing photos of Lake Michigan taken from the ISS in April of 2024. These were shot by astronaut, Jeanette Epps.

The #GreatLakes are pretty great. Let's hope they stay that way.
Photo of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron from the International Space Station. Photo by astronaut Jeanette Epps. Photo of Lake Michigan, Michigan, and part of Lake Huron from the International Space Station. Part of the ISS' solar array is visible on the right edge of the shot. Photo by astronaut Jeanette Epps.
Reposted by Matt Herbert
moreorloess.bsky.social
Wetlands of Teejop, now Madison, recorded by the public land survey in 1834, two years after forced cession of these Ho-Chunk lands. The Yahara River then also had a more wandering path across the swampy isthmus. Also note the sugar grove (now Maple Bluff) and trail.
Sketch map of what is now the Madison isthmus trail, with wetlands indicated by shaded areas. A sugar grove and trail are also marked.
matteherbert.bsky.social
Can artificial reefs in Lake Michigan slow erosion & boost fish populations? Artificial reefs off of #Illinois Beach State Park are designed to help protect coastal beaches and provide fish habitat. Researchers are evaluating.
#GreatLakes #LakeMichigan #Chicago
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/13/l...
Can artificial reefs in Lake Michigan slow erosion and boost fish population? Researchers aim to find out.
Rubble ridges, which have been built parallel to the shore, help retain some sand without fully stopping the natural flow in the lake.
www.chicagotribune.com
matteherbert.bsky.social
We know AI requires a ton of water to cool servers, but companies have not been transparent about how much water is used. This is something to think about in the #GreatLakes, but also pretty much any geography. #AI #water #freshwater #tech
clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/n...
As the Great Lakes Become a Data Center Hub, AI’s Water Usage Impact Remains Unknown
AI data centers pose a threat to groundwater in the Lake Erie watershed, with only 1% of the water in the Great Lakes being replenished each year. By Jaden Stambolia
clevelandmagazine.com