Lake Superior (known as Gichigami, or ‘big lake’ in Ojibwe) is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and the third largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh water. The lake straddles 150 miles of Minnesota’s northeastern border, with its most western edge ending along the city twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin.
June 18, 1973 - MER’s Hugh Morgan reports that The International Joint Commission proposes using Lake Superior as a reservoir to control unusually high water in the other Great Lakes: Michigan, Erie and Huron.
July 8, 1973 - Part ten of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “Water: Words and Music.” Program profiles a meeting on June 15, 1973 regarding asbestos fibers found in Lake Superior.
August 10, 1973 - MER’s Greg Barron reports on Reserve Mining trial, where issues of asbestos from dumping tailings into Lake Superior are being argued. Dr. Donald Baumgartner, an engineer for the Environmental Protection Agency, testified for the state using a taconite settling study that shows particles can carry great distances in Lake Superior. Reserve Mining claims taconite is carried to a 600 foot "Great Trench."
November 8, 1974 - MPR’s Dick Daly reports a hearing on lake water use held in Duluth. All the Great Lakes have had too much water in recent years and high water and strong winds have eroded shorelines and caused flooding. Lake Superior water levels are held artificially high by the IJC, a US joint commission with Canada.
November 11, 1975 - With the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald the day prior during a gale storm on Lake Superior, MPR’s Dick Daly interviews Dr. Julius Wolff, a maritime historian at University of Minnesota Duluth, about the dangerous history of shipping on the massive lake in November.
November 11, 1975 - MPR’s Claudia Hampston talks with Erling Hanson, of the Harbormasters' Club, to get his reaction of news that the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a gale storm on November, 10th 1975.
February 2, 1976 - U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey comments about Reserve Mining at a public meeting in Duluth. Audio also includes comments from a United Citizens for Clean Water and Air spokesman.
March 11, 1976 - MPR’s Dick Daly reports on debate over traffic on Lake Superior of ships containing oil, and the potential hazardous conditions petroleum spillage could create for the cold waters of lake. Segment includes comments from local residents, environmentalists, scientists, and industry experts.
April 8, 1977 - Midday presents an MPR Special report on the Minnesota Supreme Court's unanimous decision that Reserve Mining Company be allowed to use the "Milepost 7" site for its taconite tailings on-land disposal. Program includes various reports, interviews and commentary from both sides of the court fight.
May 3, 1977 - MPR’s Alan Searle looks at Minnesota DNR attempts to bring more order to smelting activities along the North Shore with a Smelt Information Center. The goal is to provide better communication and education to public, both local and from afar.