The fight against Great Lakes invaders, on film
Kathleen Lavey, Lansing State Journal 9:17 a.m. ET Jan. 21, 2017
sea lampreys
Filmmakers Brendan and Jessica Walsh both grew up in the Chicago area. She liked visiting Lake Michigan beaches. His family would travel to Michigan to camp on the Lake Michigan shore.
Both knew there are plants and animals in the Great Lakes, invasive species that don't belong there, but public discussions in Illinois about Asian carp were the starting point for their deep dive into other species that have changed the lakes.
The result is their documentary, "Making Waves: The Battle for the Great Lakes" which will be shown in two parts on MSU's WKAR-TV at 6 p.m. Sunday and at 6 p.m. Jan. 29.
The project has been six years in the making.
Column: Want to win $1 million? Fix the Asian carp problem
"We knew we always wanted to do a documentary about the Great Lakes," said Jessica Walsh, who is the film's producer. Brendan Walsh is the director of photography. Their company, Great Lakes Media, is based in Joliet, Illinois. "Many people were well aware of the potential of the Asian carp, but they didn't know the full impact of all the 180 species that are in the Great Lakes."
The documentary has been broadcast on several PBS stations around the Great Lakes. The Walshes also will be shopping it to film festivals around the country.
We talked with Jessica Walsh about the film, the worst threats to the lakes and what we can do about it.
Videos - Making Waves: Battle for the Great Lakes
What is the move about?
We try to tell the history of invasives throughout the Great Lakes. Sea lamprey, zebra and quagga mussels, round gobies, some of the invasive plants. We talk about the efforts going on around the Great Lakes to control them and to prevent new invasive species. We follow different scientists and researchers and others who are working around the Great Lakes to control invasive species. We also, of course, focus on what the individual can do in this fight.
What can an individual do about this problem?
One person can introduce a new invasive species, or they can help with one that is already there. Some of the big things that people can do is clean their boats and their fishing equipment so they don't have any hitchhikers that they transport to a lake or a river.
Sometimes people get sick of their aquarium fish or other aquatic plant or animal and they release it into a nearby pond or river thinking they're doing that animal a favor, and not thinking that they can wreak havoc on a river or an ecosystem.
When you're done with your bait, you should be throwing it in the trash rather than releasing it on land or into water.
It's also just being aware of the issue or the problem. The everyday person can be looking for new plant or fish, recognizing that and reporting it to the proper agency.
What invasive species has had the biggest impact on the lakes so far?
It's a hard one. It's kind of a matter of opinion. I think the invasive zebra and quagga mussels have had a huge impact. They're clearing the water, they're removing the nutrients and plankton out of the water. On the economic impact ,they're clogging water intake pipes at power plants and municipal water supplies. They also play a role in the avian botulism that has been killing a lot of water birds along the Great Lakes, so they definitely have had a huge impact.
I would say the other big one is the sea lamprey. It has had a big impact because they almost totally eliminated the top predator, the native lake trout, and paved the way for the alewives to boom.
The sea lamprey is very well under control with the efforts that they use now. That's one success story we have on the lakes, whereas with zebra and quagga mussels there isn't anything yet.
What comes next for you as filmmakers?
We know we definitely want to continue doing films on the Great Lakes. There are so many stories to tell and so much amazing work being done by researchers, and we definitely want to continue to tell those stories and increase an appreciation for the Great Lakes and bring attention to the unique freshwater environment that we have here.
Contact Kathleen Lavey at (517) 377-1251 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter @kathleenlavey.
Watch it
"Making Waves: The Battle for the Great Lakes" will be shown in two parts on MSU's WKAR-TV, at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, and at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.
