To the editor:
Residents of Leelanau County have a deep connection to the environment and are responsible stewards of our surroundings. But the harsh reality of recent years makes it clear that personal stewardship is no longer a shield against global ecological collapse. We can no longer hide from the externalities of a chaotic world and its impact on our local environment.
Our microclimate is flashing massive red flags. Subsurface data shows Lake Michigan’s historic thermal cycles are breaking down. Multiple uncommon, torrential downpours demonstrate that our local climate is fracturing. Meanwhile, we have endured the haze of toxic wildfire smoke over consecutive summers—impacts that harm not only our daily lives, but our gardens and crops as well.
