August 13, 2007
Lake Michigan: State of the Lake 2007 Biennial Conference Set for Traverse City
Sustaining the health of Lake Michigan and its nearshore environment are among the many sessions planned for the 5th biennial Lake Michigan: State of the Lake conference, October 3-5, 2007, in Traverse City, Michigan. Supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partners, the conference will be held jointly with the 7th annual Great Lakes Beach Association meeting.
Lake Michigan basin residents, natural resource managers, researchers and anyone interested in Lake Michigan issues is invited to attend the conference. Registration deadline is September 21, 2007. Participants will hear from more than 50 scientists, policy makers, educators and others who will present their research and work related to Lake Michigan—the largest lake entirely within the United States.
Topics to be addressed include fisheries and food web issues; Lake Michigan Areas of Concern (targets and delisting criteria); lake levels, habitat and wetlands; education and stewardship; monitoring and observing systems; and rip currents, human heath, and climate change.
“This biennial event encourages discussions and collaborations among a variety of stakeholders to address some of the significant stressors currently affecting Lake Michigan,” said Michigan Sea Grant Educator and conference co-chair Mark Breederland. “The collective results of this conference will comprise a health-assessment of this vitally important freshwater sea. U.S. EPA, state agency personnel, and many other Lake Michigan partners will use the information in setting both future research and implementation agendas.”
Among the highlights of this year’s conference will be keynote speaker John Austin, Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, who will discuss a “North Coast” concept to renew the Lake Michigan and Great Lakes region with the development of strategic water-based economic projects, cross-state branding, promotion of the region initiatives, improved public access to lakes and waterways, and an effective federal state compact to clean up the Great Lakes.
The conference will take place on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay at Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Campus Hagerty Conference Center and the Holiday Inn West Bay located directly adjacent.
The full conference registration fee of $100 includes breakfasts, lunches and refreshments over several days. Single-day rates and reduced rates for students are also available, as well as limited scholarships for educators. To register, visit the conference web site.
For additional information, contact Jenny McKellar, (231) 922-4625, jennymc@msu.edu
Michigan Sea Grant, a joint program of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, promotes knowledge of the Great Lakes through research, outreach and education. Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of university-based programs.
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