Photo: Brenner |
Lake Michigan: State of the Lake 2007 Biennial Conference 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. Conference 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 extension 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, Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, who will discuss a “North Coast” concept to renew Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region. |