Lake Michigan science and policy conference coming to Green Bay November 7-10

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2017

Contact: Christine Manninen, SOLM17 Conference Coordinator, 734-560-8598, [email protected]

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Ann Arbor, Mich. — Lake Michigan will take center stage next week, when more than 300 scientists, natural resource managers, and beach health experts head to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the 2017 State of Lake Michigan Conference. The event, to be held November 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency, will also feature the annual meeting of the Great Lakes Beach Association and other associated workshops and field trips.

The State of Lake Michigan (SOLM) Conference—a popular, biennial event dating back to 1999—is hosted this year by the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) with support from state and local sponsors. SOLM17 will be the first in an annual series of State of Lake conferences aimed at promoting linkages between the science and policy communities.

“IAGLR is pleased to promote the importance of science in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing our Great Lakes today,” says IAGLR President Erin Dunlop, a research scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. “The state of lake conferences provide a unique opportunity to bring together researchers, practitioners, and managers with the common goal of protecting and improving the valuable resources of the Great Lakes for future generations.”

Michael Zorn, an associate dean and professor at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and co-chair of the SOLM Program Committee, adds: “This conference is an excellent opportunity to promote current Lake Michigan research, network with fellow scientists, and contribute to policy discussions. We look forward to showcasing the important restoration and conservation efforts underway in our area, including efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment delivery to the Fox River and Green Bay.”

Keynote Speakers

Bill Hafs, director of environmental programs at NEW Water, will speak about the science of water quality and public health in the Great Lakes on Wednesday, November 8, at 11 a.m. in the Hyatt Regency Grand E Ballroom.

Elizabeth Hinchey-Malloy, Lake Michigan and Lake Erie manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office, will address the current challenges and opportunities facing Lake Michigan, following Haf’s presentation on Wednesday, November 8, at 11 a.m. in the Hyatt Regency Grand E Ballroom.

Dan Egan, Great Lakes author and reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will be interviewed by Robert Hornacek, reporter for WLUK-Fox 11 News in Green Bay, on Thursday, November 9, at 11 a.m. Egan recently published a book, The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, which highlights the challenges of invasive species, algae blooms, declines in native fish species, and threats to drinking water.

Sessions of Interest

Harmful Algal Blooms: Public Health, Beach Management, and Emerging Issues
As the frequency, magnitude, and duration of harmful algal blooms increase throughout the Great Lakes basin, so does the impact on public health, beach management, and research. A wide range of presentations will discuss these impacts with a focus on recreational water.

Dangerous Currents in the Great Lakes: Observations, Forecasting, and Risk Communications
Dangerous currents are a prevalent threat to all beachgoers in the Great Lakes. Swimming directly against currents or along piers or breakwalls can be deadly. This session features observations, modeling, and forecasting/warning systems for dangerous currents in the Great Lakes and developing a community of practice to maximize our collective knowledge, resources, and actions to end drowning in the Great Lakes.

Restoring the Health and Resiliency of the Green Bay Ecosystem
Despite historic losses and present day stresses, Green Bay remains the largest and most productive bay of Lake Michigan and supports tremendous fish and wildlife diversity. The Green Bay Conservation Partners group provides conservation practitioners with opportunities for information sharing, collaboration, and networking. This session will share how many pieces come together to collectively contribute to restoring the health and vitality of a freshwater resource that is integral to our economy, culture, and way of life. 

Results from the 2015 Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative intensive field year on Lake Michigan
The Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is a binational program that coordinates monitoring and research efforts on each of the Great Lakes over a five-year cycle. In 2015, CSMI field sampling was focused on Lake Michigan with a particular emphasis on lower food web dynamics, the distribution of benthic organisms across the lake, and contaminant transfer within the food web.

For media attending SOLM17: Please check in at the registration desk (outside Hyatt Grand E Ballroom). You will need to show your media credentials to receive a complimentary registration for the days you wish to attend the conference. All events are open to the media. Press ribbons will be provided for your nametag.

View the conference program at iaglr.org/sol/solm17/program/

Follow the conference hashtag on Twitter: #SOLM17

Contacts

Local Planning Committee Co-chairs
Chad Cook
University of Wisconsin Extension
[email protected]

Kimberly Busse
President, Great Lakes Beach Association
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
[email protected]

IAGLR
Christine Manninen
SOLM17 Conference Coordinator
734-560-8598
[email protected]
 
Program Committee Co-chairs
Ed Verhamme
LimnoTech
[email protected]

Michael Zorn
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
[email protected]