2024 Convention Abstracts
All workshops and presentations proposed for the 2024 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention, a joint event with the 2024 MiCorps Annual Volunteer Lake and Stream Monitoring Conference, are listed below. Click on underlined speakers' names to contact them via email.
Download the 2024 Convention Program
Convention abstracts are listed in the order the appear in they program.
Thursday, October 3: 9:15 AM
Keynote Presentation: Reflections on my career as a limnologist at Michigan State University
Stephen K. Hamilton, Michigan State University and Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Emeritus
This talk will emphasize Dr. Hamilton's freshwater research experiences in Michigan, including various studies of wetlands, stream biogeochemistry and ecology, and zebra mussels in lakes. Dr. Hamilton has also studied sustainable agriculture in Michigan, and tropical floodplain ecosystems of Brazil, Venezuela, and Australia.
Thursday, October 3: 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions
MiCorps: Celebrating 50 Years of the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program
The Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program celebrates 50 years of discovery
Jo Latimore, Michigan State University, and Erick Elgin, Michigan State University Extension
Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program! Volunteers have been collecting high-quality data on Michigan’s lakes since 1974, leading to one of the nation’s richest long-term lake datasets. We’ll provide a brief history of the program from its origin as a water transparency monitoring program to today, when volunteers can choose from a variety of water quality and habitat attributes to monitor depending on their interests. By highlighting some major program accomplishments, we’ll explore ways that the data can be used by managers, scientists, and communities for lake conservation and research. Finally, we’ll explain how new volunteers can get involved.
Our dynamic lakes: Characteristics and long-term changes in Michigan's inland lakes
Erick Elgin, Michigan State University Extension; Jo Latimore, Michigan State University; Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council; and Tamara Lipsey, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Michigan’s lakes are dynamic over both short- and long-term scales. To understand how lakes are changing through time, standardized long-term monitoring is necessary. For 50 years the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) has been collecting data on Michigan’s lakes resulting in a rich dataset that covers water quality, habitat, and aquatic invasive plants. Using CLMP data, we will explore the characteristics of Michigan’s inland lakes and discuss changes that have occurred through time. We will also examine potential spatial patterns in water quality and habitat parameters. Finally, we will show how this publicly accessible data can be accessed by volunteers and professionals.
Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program panel - Ask us anything!
MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program Team
The final 30 minutes of this special session will be an open panel discussion with Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) staff and a few long-term CLMP volunteers. This will be your chance to ask us anything about the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program! Bring your questions about our data, our monitoring protocols, how to get involved as a volunteer, how to partner with us as a professional, or anything else that’s on your mind. It will also be your chance to tell us what you want to see in the next 50 years of the CLMP – we’ll be prepared with some questions for you!
Invasive Species
European frog-bit: From Collaborative to CISMAs to you
Tom Alwin, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); Billy Keiper, EGLE; and Sam Tank, Great Lakes Commission
European Frog-bit, a floating aquatic invasive plant, can form dense mats in calm waters, which can impede recreation and alter habitat for native species. Come learn how researchers, resource managers, and state agencies are working together to better understand EFB distribution, life history, and control strategies from the Great Lakes basin to lake scale. Also, find out what you can do to help prevent this invasive species from spreading.
Eradicating yellow floating heart and parrot feather in Michigan
Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Eradication is often the goal of invasive species management but rarely achieved. The invasive nature of some species to quickly spread, remain undetected when in low abundance, and lag time in control actions often put managers behind when implementing response actions. This talk however will focus on successful eradication efforts for two aquatic invasive plants in Michigan. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Water Resource Division staff will present on over a decade of response efforts working to eradicate both yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) and parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) and lessons learned along the way.
Didymo? How about Didy-less. Collaboration and citizen science to combat rock snot in Michigan
Jordyn Stoll, Trout Unlimited; Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Lucas Nathan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; and Bryan Burroughs, Michigan Trout Unlimited
Didymosphenia geminata (didymo or rock snot) is a stalk-forming benthic diatom that causes significant ecological disruptions when it blooms, adversely affecting habitat and water quality in rivers. Documented since 2015 in Michigan, didymo blooms impact native organism diversity, abundance, and productivity. Although historical records indicate didymo's presence in the Great Lakes basin for nearly a century, notable blooms in Northern Michigan's coldwater streams were observed only recently in 2021 and 2022. The factors driving these blooms remain unknown, and efforts to assess didymo's distribution and associated water chemistry in Michigan have been limited. The potential spread of didymo through angling gear, boats, and waders necessitates community engagement to mitigate further dispersal. Michigan Trout Unlimited, MDNR and EGLE are working together to protect Michigan rivers through three primary goals: engaging the public in monitoring, education, and outreach; collecting data to assess distribution, bloom drivers, and dispersal risks; and building a network of stakeholders to evaluate data, identify research needs, and develop management strategies. To become part of the solution, considered adding didymo sampling to your routine next time you head out to your favorite stream, instructions can be found on the Michigan TU website here. Encourage your friends and family to always clean their gear after visiting a river, and report suspicious algae growth to MDNR here.
HABs, Septic Systems, and Public Health
Harmful algal bloom risk perception and community engagement
Heather Triezenberg, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and MSU; Erica Clites, Michigan Sea Grant Extension; Diane Doberneck, MSU; and Alex Benitez, MSU
The community engagement core of the Great Lakes Center for Freshwaters and Human Health (Center) facilitated training, conducted stakeholder needs assessments, worked to understand populations vulnerable to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and implemented outreach based on the results of this work. A community-engaged scholarship institute was held in 2019 for scientists associated with the Center and a manuscript published describing the training approach and outcomes. Map products were created to highlight populations within MI most vulnerable to HABs based on pre-existing health conditions and other factors. Interviews were conducted with Center scientists as well as lake associations and state agency representatives which showed that lake associations still have many questions about HABs and that agencies could also use outreach material and annual scientific updates about HABs. A manuscript on this work is currently in review. Collaborating with other Centers for Oceans and Human Health, a strategic framework was published that describes the outreach to engagement continuum. Alex Benitez completed thesis research exploring vulnerable populations’ HABs knowledge and HABs risk communication. This work revealed a better understanding of the social and cultural lenses people use for processing information to make health choices. We convened a series of HABs outreach meetings with key agency and statewide contacts. This collaboration led to a successful statewide HABs 101 webinar in March 2024 which was delivered live and recorded for later viewing. Participants felt more able to explain HABs to someone else after attending the webinar.
Measuring Michigan lake management companies' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of harmful algal blooms
Susan Peters and Alex Rafalski, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Detecting and responding to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Michigan requires collaboration between stakeholders, one of which is lake management companies (LMCs). LMCs have a variety of roles related to HABs, including responding to HAB complaints on lakes they manage, reporting HABs to state and local agencies, treating affected water bodies, and providing education. To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of LMCs operating in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) partnered with Michigan State University students to survey LMCs via a survey, focus groups, and interviews. Thirty-six LMCs were identified and solicited for participation; 16 (44%) responded to the survey. Six LMCs participated in a focus group or interview. Most respondents (69.2%) use the term HABs to only mean cyanobacterial blooms, and 91% have a high or very high confidence in identifying HABs. Most (72.7%) know of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s HAB reporting system; however, they only report HABs to this system 40.6% of the time. Most respondents (54%) classified the effectiveness of their company’s HAB communication strategies as moderately effective. Community buy-in and support was reported to be very essential or extremely essential in managing HABs effectively. To address HABs, more LMCs used management strategies (72.3%) than direct treatment (62.5%). 79% of respondents indicated their company is very or extremely open to change and feedback on their HAB management strategies. MDHHS will use these findings to more effectively engage with LMCs to improve HAB reporting and communications delivered to the public.
At least 15 reasons why we desperately need a uniform statewide onsite wastewater code in Michigan
Larry Stephens, Stephens Consulting Sevices, PC
Two companion House bills and two identical Senate bills are now pending in the Michigan Legislature that would provide the basis for a comprehensive uniform statewide code for onsite treatment systems. These bills are the latest attempt of several over the last 20 years or so, and in my opinion represent the best effort to date. I have followed them all. One of the benefits of being the last state in the union to adopt such a code is the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. The most common reasons put forth in support of this effort is to create a management program by which onsite systems are inspected periodically to find and correct failures that result in contamination and pollution of our lakes and streams. While this is a notable reason and important benefit of a statewide code, there are a lot of other reasons why we desperately need a comprehensive program for the long term management of our onsite wastewater infrastructure. This presentation will identify and discuss at least 15 important reasons why we need such a code in Michigan from the perspective of a system designer that has lived and worked in the onsite industry since the time of adoption of many of the existing county codes.
DNR Fisheries Management
DNR assessments and management
Matt Diana, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Inland lakes provide habitat for fish populations that provide ecological, recreational, and subsistence values to society. In fact, 48% of all recreational fishing in Michigan is on inland lakes. This presentation will focus on both assessment of populations using a variety of fisheries survey techniques and fisheries management. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish populations on inland lakes in collaboration with other agencies and with the public. Managing fish populations includes regulating fishing, managing habitat to support populations, stocking fishes, responding to fish kills, collaborating with the public to ensure sustainable fish populations, and much more.
Michigan DNR sunfish management: Sunfish management survey and plan
Matt Diana, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Bluegill and other panfish are a staple of Michigan fisheries. Many anglers often first experience fishing while targeting these species. Panfish are available statewide and are relatively easy to catch with few barriers to entry into the sport. Panfish by far dominate the inland lake creel and are one of the most harvested fish in the state. Panfish are susceptible to stunting and populations can shift to high density with poor growth resulting in poor size structure. Harvest can often drive this shift. Other states have begun focusing on quality panfish management and have developed regulations to manage for quality panfish. DNR Biologist have proposed utilizing quality panfish management in Michigan. An angler survey was developed and distributed in 2022. Survey results anglers prefer to catch larger fish. that a majority of Michigan anglers support potentially using regulations to improve panfish size structure. There was also a large focus on harvest and concerns regarding restrictions. DNR biologists approved an issue statement in 2022 to create a panfish management committee that would develop a panfish management plan and work to implement experimental regulations on a small set of lakes. Because of the overlap in habitats, ecology, and biologist expertise, the decision was made to combine the panfish and existing bass committees to form a Centrarchid Committee that would operate with a bass and panfish subcommittee. The DNR is currently in the process of revising the Terms of Reference and establishing membership with the goal of identifying committee charges.
Fish habitat: Threats and management activities
Joe Nohner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fishes across the state’s 10,000+ inland lakes rely on high-quality habitat to support their populations. Healthy habitats support natural reproduction to ensure future generations of fishes for anglers to catch, provide high growth rates to produce trophy fishes, and provide resilient populations that are less affected by changes to the system. This presentation will provide an overview of threats to fish habitat and steps the DNR and partners are taking to address these threats.
MiCorps Networking: Stream Monitoring
A facilitated networking discussion between MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring program leaders
Tamara Lipsey, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
This workshop is intended for those who lead MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Programs or those who wish to lead one in the future. The format of the workshop will be facilitated peer to peer conversation and networking. A survey will be administered prior to the workshop to determine the conversation subjects most desired among those planning to attend. The goal is to discuss challenges that come along with organizing and carrying out a successful MiCorps VSMP and hopefully find solutions among others who also participate in the program. Possible subjects discussed could include:
• monitoring techniques and best practices and equipment
• grant opportunities beyond MiCorps
• successful programming, volunteer recruitment and retention
• challenges and lessons learned
• use of VSMP data
• macroinvertebrate Identification challenges and resources
Thursday, October 3: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions
MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program: Overview and highlights
Twenty years of stream monitoring with the Michigan Clean Water Corps
Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council
In 2004, the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) first started awarding grants to assist non-profits, universities, and local municipalities in establishing and running benthic macroinvertebrates monitoring programs. To date, the program has awarded about $750,000 through 150 grants to 48 organizations. These organizations have collectively engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and collected thousands of macroinvertebrates samples from across Michigan. A rapid analysis of the data will be given to show the geographic breadth of samples and examples of how it has been used by member organizations to guide water quality management decisions. Instructions will be given for those wishing to participate in MiCorps as a volunteer or partner organization.
Muskegon Conservation District MiCorps monitoring
Sabrina Huizenga, Muskegon Conservation District
The Muskegon Conservation District is starting a long-term volunteer monitoring program in the Mona Lake Watershed. The Conservation District and partners will use this program to collect the data needed to rewrite the Mona Lake watershed management plan. This program is needed because there was a lack of all ages community science volunteer opportunities in the area and a need for water quality data to identify sources of problems in the watershed. The program has been running for over a year now, and organizers have successfully held 2 sampling events and 2 sorting events. We have been able to widen our community volunteers within the program from when we first started the program. We have begun to process our results and have seen the difference between upstream agriculture sites to downstream industrial sites. Those considering beginning their own program should consider who in your community could be a volunteer source along figuring out ways to nurture dedication in returning volunteers.
Gogebic Black River watershed stream monitoring
Maxwell Ramsay, Gogebic Conservation District
The Gogebic Conservation District is working to develop a long-term volunteer led water quality monitoring program in Gogebic County starting with the Black River watershed and expanding to other areas of concerns as needed. The focus of this program is to supply more up-to-date information than current monitoring efforts by state or federal agencies. Low population density, forested land cover, and lack of intensive agriculture make for generally good water quality in Gogebic County. However, large areas of land are managed for corporate timber harvest which requires heavy machinery and road building. Add to this a legacy of poorly designed river crossings; there is the potential for streams to be negatively impacted by sediment loading and decreased aquatic organism passage. Small cold-water tributaries that serve as spawning and nursery habitat for Brook Trout are a particular concern and program focus. For streams that drain municipalities, increased impermeable surfaces and nutrient loading can decrease water quality. Climate change will increase both water temperatures and extreme storm events, which will amplify these issues in the future. Gogebic County’s water resources provide important recreational and sporting opportunities for area residents and visitors. This resource greatly enhances the quality of life of area residents and contributes economically to the area. For the Black River watershed to continue to provide ecosystem services at its current level, high water quality must be maintained. We hope that a volunteer stream monitoring program will provide high quality data that can be used to detect problems early.
Invasive Species
Addressing data gaps to inform management of dreissenids for protection of native mussels in Michigan's inland lakes
Michael Hillary, Lucas Nathan, Seth Herbst, Mark Tonello, Cleyo Harris, and Jennifer Johnson, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Daelyn Woolnough, Central Michigan University; Jessica Pruden, US Fish and Wildlife Service; and Pete Badra, Michigan Natural Features Inventory
Native freshwater mussels (family: Unionidae) are an important component of the biodiversity of Michigan’s aquatic ecosystems. They play an important role in aquatic ecosystems by filtering and, in turn, improving water quality. Of the 43 mussel species found in Michigan, 19 (44%) are State listed as either endangered or threatened, 2 of these are thought to be extirpated, and an additional 12 are identified as species of special concern. The introduction of invasive dreissenid mussels (Zebra [Dreissena polymorpha] and Quagga [D. rostriformis bugensis]) into the Great Lakes region pose threats to native mussels. Once introduced, dreissenid mussels can attach to native mussels causing impacts to feeding and mobility which can lead to mortality. Understanding the spatial extent of invasive dreissenid mussel assemblages has been identified as an uncertainty in preventing effective management strategies. There is also a knowledge gap of where native freshwater mussel communities are found and information is especially limited for inland lakes compared to rivers. This project will seek to develop and evaluate management strategies to protect native freshwater mussel species from the impacts of invasive dreissenid mussels through three objectives; 1) Compile and review existing data on native and invasive mussel distributions to identify priority water bodies for prevention and/or removal efforts of invasive mussels; 2) Conduct mussel surveys in inland lakes to address data gaps; and 3) test the removal of dreissenids from native mussels to inform future control strategies. This is the first year of the project and initial results will be discussed.
Clean Boats, Clean Waters - Preventing aquatic invasive species one boat at a time
Kevin Walters, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Kelsey Bockelman, Michigan State University Extension
Step aboard and learn about Michigan’s aquatic invasive species education program, Clean Boats, Clean Waters from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Educator, Kelsey Bockelman and EGLE Aquatic Biologist, Kevin Walters. Clean Boats, Clean Waters is on a mission to prevent aquatic invasive species introductions and their spread from boating and fishing activities. Clean Boats, Clean Waters fills an educational gap through unified and consistent messaging about boat cleaning practices and current regulations. The program stresses the “clean, drain, dry” message through the distribution of educational materials, hosting local boat cleaning events, a small grants program, and partnerships with conservation organizations. Clean Boats, Clean Waters is wrapping up its fourth year of providing grant funds to lake associations, non-profits, and other passionate organizations dedicated to protecting their local water bodies from aquatic invasive species. Past grant projects have included decontamination sign installations, outreach events, and infographics in magazines. Additionally, Clean Boats, Clean Waters now hosts the MSU Mobile Boat Wash program under its umbrella. The Mobile Boat Wash program just finished its 10th season of providing hands-on outreach to boaters on best practices for aquatic invasive species decontamination. This program hosts free events across Michigan and provides access to crews who come with a high-pressure, trailer-mounted boat cleaning system as well as an extensive library of aquatic invasive materials. Join us for an overview of one of Michigan’s largest statewide aquatic invasive species prevention programs and learn how you can partner with Clean Boats, Clean Waters to protect your local water bodies.
Comparison of boat cleaning systems: invasive species removal, boater engagement, and cost
Jo Latimore, Michigan State University; Maria Bleitz, Oklahoma State University; and Kevin Walters, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
The movement of recreational boats is an overland transport pathway that places lakes at risk of invasion by aquatic invasive species. Lake organizations, governments, and conservation organizations may choose to install boat cleaning systems that use heated water, pressurized water, hand tools, vacuums, or a combination, to kill or remove attached organisms. We compared these various cleaning systems in terms of decontamination effectiveness, outreach effectiveness, and cost. We reviewed published literature and interviewed 12 invasive species experts representing 7 boat cleaning programs located in Michigan (each program owns 1 to 5 boat cleaning systems, for a total of 15). Our analysis indicates that there is no single best boat cleaning system. Selection of the most effective system for a particular situation should be guided by local invasion risk, management goals, and location and budget constraints of that situation.
GIS and Remote Sensing for Lake Management
Harvesting, building, and analyzing lake-specific GIS data
Robert Goodwin, Michigan State University
Data and tools available for analyzing water resources have expanded dramatically in recent years. At the same time, access to these data and tools has improved, allowing just about anyone to participate in lake management. This presentation will focus on harvesting, building and analyzing spatial datasets for conducting lake-specific analyses. These include precise elevation data, bathymetry, land cover, orthoimagery, drone data, current hydrography and more. Learn the process of compiling geospatial data and discuss lake management activities utilizing said data.
Lake Charlevoix shoreline inventory: Landscape level resource assessment, cumulative impacts, and status and trends
Chad Fizzell, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
In 2022, EGLE's Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams Unit produced a detailed shoreline inventory for Lake Charlevoix, including stats on historic wetland loss, and a categorization of the shoreline armoring that’s current to 2020. This analysis utilizes the best of remote sensing data and GIS tools, including the latest aerial imagery and LiDAR for Lake Charlevoix, and historical documentation to quantify changes on the Lake's shoreline since Pre-European settlement. This presentation will focus on the technical processes used to produce the shoreline inventories, and ways that these processes and datasets can be used to benefit and inform local stakeholders on other inland lakes in Michigan.
Satellite-derived lake water quality data using an automated high-performance computing environment for Michigan
Leif Olmanson, University of Minnesota
Recent advances in satellite technology (improved spatial, spectral, radiometric, and temporal resolution) and atmospheric correction, along with cloud detection, machine learning, and supercomputing capabilities, have enabled the development of automated regional-scale measurements of water quality. These new capabilities provide opportunities to inform society and improve lake and fisheries management by frequently measuring more variables. Utilizing these capabilities, we have created a comprehensive well-calibrated, and consistently processed water quality database for 21,000+ lakes in the Upper Midwest States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan for 2017-2024. This database includes over 2.8 million measurements of chlorophyll, clarity, and CDOM (8,400,000+ total). The Michigan data will be accessible in an online map viewer linked to a spatial database that allows for statistical summaries at different delineations and time windows, temporal analysis, and visualization of water quality variables. The Minnesota LakeBrowser (https://lakes.rs.umn.edu/) provides an example of the data produced through this project. Due to the cloud cover monthly open water (May through October) pixel-level mosaics work best for statewide coverage. Lake-level data is determined for each clear image occurrence and compiled in CSV files that can be used to calculate water quality variables for different time frames (e.g. monthly, summer (June-Sept)) which can be linked to a lake polygon layer that can be used for geospatial analysis and included in a web map interface. Statistical summaries and comparisons at the state and ecoregion levels along with spatial/temporal analysis of the Minnesota data will be discussed.
[Workshop] Lake Awareness Day partners: Five steps to achieving healthy inland lakes in Michigan
Michigan Waterfront Alliance President Robert Frye will facilitate this 1.5 hour workshop that will be dedicated to highlighting the five steps for improving Michigan's inland lakes and/or enhancing public funding of program dedicated to inland lake management that were identified by the Lake Appreciation Day Participants Working Group. Each presentation will run approximately 12-15 minutes. The topics and respective presenters are identified below. The remaining 15 minutes of the 1.5 hour session will be dedicated to a question and answer period to all presenters.
Step 1. Impacts of inland lakes on Michigan's economy
Scott Brown, Michigan Waterfront Alliance
Step 2. Voluntary tax contributions to support inland lakes
Jennifer McKay, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Step 3. The need for a statewide septic code to address inland lake issues
Megan Tinsley, Michigan Environmental Council
Step 4. Increasing stormwater management using best management practices
Paul Hausler, Progressive Companies
Step 5. Administration support for Michigan's inland lakes
Bob Frye, Michigan Waterfront Alliance
[Workshop] The good, the bad and the slimy: An introduction to the ecology and identification of freshwater algae in Michigan
Julianne Heinlein, Great Lakes Environmental Center
With frequent occurrences of hazardous algal blooms (HABs) and nuisance growths, algae get a bad rap. As a group they are fundamental to a well-functioning aquatic ecosystem. As photosynthesizers they harness solar energy, turning it into organic compounds that serve as the foundation of most aquatic food webs. In the process, they are primary in the cycling of inorganic nutrients, oxygen, and carbon. They can also be disarmingly beautiful. This workshop is intended as a brief introduction to the diversity and ecology of algae in Michigan waters. We will discuss the important roles that algae play in lake and stream ecosystems, touch on the effects of human activities on algal communities, and explore the different algal phyla through images and live/preserved material. You will learn how to sample the different algal communities, how these samples are used to assess water quality, and the main characteristics used to identify larger algal groups and some common or important genera. Algal taxonomic references will be reviewed. The level of taxonomic discussion will depend on the experience and needs of the group. Participants are encouraged to bring samples from lakes and streams of interest. The workshop will consist of both a lecture and hands-on examination of algae samples and sampling equipment.
Thursday, October 3: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions
MiCorps Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
Adopt A Stream: Retaining and recruiting long term and episodic volunteers
Heather Smith, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
Launched in June 2003, Adopt-A-Stream is The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay’s bi-annual Michigan Clean Water Corps’ volunteer stream monitoring program. Each year, The Watershed Center engages approximately 100 volunteers who monitor macroinvertebrates and stream habitat at 25 wadable stream sites across the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. Adopt-A-Stream is focused on producing high quality, reputable data while simultaneously providing participants with a deeper understanding of aquatic ecology and local watershed issues. While the program model has shifted and evolved over the last two decades in response to community needs, TWC has a track record of retaining invested volunteers while continually recruiting new program participants. Our current model allows trained volunteer teams to monitor their assigned stream section each spring and fall anytime during our two-week open sampling period, which affords volunteers flexibility and autonomy. Past program models focused on a one-day volunteer monitoring experience that catered to a wider audience of sporadic volunteers. In 2024, we are working to blend these two program models, providing both an autonomous as well as group-oriented volunteer experience. This session will discuss volunteer recruitment and retainment efforts as well as explore the benefits and challenges of a blended program model that caters to both long-term and episodic volunteers.
The Healthy Lakes Initiative
Kate Laramie, Huron River Watershed Council
Thanks to funding from the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership, the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) launched the Healthy Lakes Initiative in 2024 to promote lake stewardship among shoreland property owners on six inland lakes in the watershed. Over the course of this two-year program, HRWC is connecting with and educating shoreland property owners about the value of water quality monitoring, and the importance of natural shoreland protection and restoration for lake health by recruiting residents to participate in two existing statewide programs: The Michigan Clean Water Corps’ Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP), and the Michigan Natural Shoreland Partnership’s Shoreland Stewards Program (MiSS). Through the Healthy Lakes Initiative, HRWC staff provide direct support to CLMP volunteers and MiSS participates in the form of training and monitoring assistance, townhall presentations for residents to learn about lake and shoreland ecology, and by assisting property owners in assessing and improving their land management practices to benefit water quality. In year two of the project, the Healthy Lakes Initiative will also provide native plant packages to 25 residents to install as shoreline buffer strips or as part of larger restoration projects to improve natural shoreland habitat. HRWC staff will present on the successes and lessons learned after year one of the Healthy Lakes Initiative, review implementation strategies and logistics, and discuss the value of connecting statewide initiatives with local partners to promote lake stewardship.
Collaboration in community science: Win-win partnerships for watersheds
Erin Pavloski, The University of Olivet; Rachel Cuschieri-Murray and Val Reisen, Eaton Conservation District
The Eaton County Collaborative Stream Monitoring Program operates in partnership between The University of Olivet and Eaton Conservation District. Through MiCorps support, we have been able to create and sustain a stream monitoring program and partnership that leverages staff and resources to meet our program’s goals. With the unique structure of the program, we can engage undergraduate students and community scientists alike in watershed education and fieldwork. This session will highlight the benefits of this kind of collaboration and invite discussion on how stream monitoring programs might forge new partnerships to grow or sustain their work.
Hydrilla in Michigan
Early detection and rapid delimitation surveys for hydrilla in southwest Michigan
Alex Florian, Southwest by Southwest Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area; Erick Elgin, Michigan State University Extension; and Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Successful invasive species management requires knowledge of the full extent of an invasion across the landscape. In 2023, Hydrilla verticillatum (a federally listed aquatic invasive plant) was discovered for the first time in Michigan. Initial surveys found hydrilla to only occur in two adjacent private ponds. To understand the full extent of the hydrilla invasion in Michigan, early detection and rapid delimitation surveys have been conducted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and Southwest by Southwest Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, and MiCorps volunteers in southwest Michigan. In this presentation we will discuss our methods and preliminary results from our first year of surveys.
Designing a robust outreach response to new invasive discoveries
Paige Filice, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension; Alex Florian, Southwest by Southwest Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area; Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Erick Elgin, MSU Extension
Outreach is a critical step when there is a discovery of a new aquatic invasive species in Michigan waters. When hydrilla was detected last year invasive species biologists and outreach specialists from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Michigan State University Extension, and the Southwest by Southwest Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area collaborated on a comprehensive communications response. This process included identifying critical audiences, creatively engaging with various stakeholders, developing new hydrilla identification and reporting materials, and promoting aquatic invasive species prevention. Learn about our new outreach products and how we communicated about hydrilla to diverse audiences including local homeowners, water garden and pet store retailers, pond-scape companies, boaters and anglers, volunteer invasive species monitors, and the general public.
An update on hydrilla response efforts in Michigan
Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) has continued to spread across the United States and was first detected in Michigan for the first time in fall 2023. Efforts are underway to contain and eradicate hydrilla from Michigan’s waters. We will share an update on response efforts taken to date, including control actions in 2023 and 2024 to eradicate the species and prevent further spread.
Lake Management
Reduction of nutrients and solids to an inland lake with the use of biochar: A promising lake restoration tool
Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones, Restorative Lake Sciences
Silver Lake is located in Golden Township, Oceana County, Michigan. The lake is comprised of 679.2 acres and is the center of an active recreational community. In 2022, RLS conducted a long-term evaluation of runoff entering the lake from Critical Source Areas (CSA’s). The evaluation demonstrated that runoff contained much higher concentrations of nutrients and solids than ambient mean basin concentrations and therefore runoff was a major source of nutrients to the lake that required mitigation. Total phosphorus concentrations in the lake ranged from 0.020-0.149 mg L-1. The immediate watershed is approximately 18.2 times larger than the size of Silver Lake, which indicated the presence of a large-sized immediate watershed. Grading of launch sites with gully erosion present, a carp cull, and installation of biochar at the drain locations to adsorb nutrients and pollutants were implemented to improve water quality. Multiple water quality parameters in the drains were measured throughout 2023 and compared to previously collected 2022 baseline data. Statistically significant (p<.05) reductions in total phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen, and total suspended solids were measured in 2023 as a result of biochar implementation in five key drains that had previously contributed substantial nutrient and solids loads to the lake. Continued implementation of biochar should allow the lake to return to a macrophyte-dominated preferred stable state with reduced algal blooms and increased clarity.
Climate change: Effects on our inland lake fisheries and strategies for adaptation
Joe Nohner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
As our climate changes, so too do our lakes. We’re seeing evidence of effects on lakes such as shorter ice durations, warming surface waters, longer growing seasons, and more. How do these affect fish and anglers? This presentation will discuss major changes that lakes are facing as a result of climate change, the effects those changes have on fish and anglers, and strategies to fight the worst of these effects.
Outreach and innovative best management practices in Mill Creek
Matt Bain, The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds; and Joel Betts, Kent Conservation District
The Mill Creek Watershed (MCW) covers 12,955 acres, mostly in Kent County, with a small portion, including a 125-acre lake (Cranberry Lake), and its drainage area in Ottawa County. The headwaters, above Cranberry Lake, drain agricultural lands, and the upper reach, below Cranberry Lake, begins as a network of linear, agricultural drains and has been subject to historical dredging. The MCW has a long history of degradation. In 1983, a large runoff event containing chicken manure caused a complete fish kill in 13 miles of Mill Creek’s 14-mile length. In 1989, another fish kill occurred due to an industrial discharge into a 3.6-mile coldwater tributary of Mill Creek named Strawberry Creek. Currently the MCW is not supporting the designated uses of coldwater fishery, other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife, and partial and total body contact due to E.coli, chemical analytes, poor bioassessment scores, and other unknown factors. Further, Cranberry Lake suffers from significant algal blooms due to nutrient loading from nonpoint sources and has been determined to be hypereutrophic by EGLE staff. In 2023, Kent Conservation District (KCD), in partnership with the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW), received an EGLE 319 grant to address the issues facing the MCW. This presentation will describe the actions taken during our first field season including outreach to lake-property owners, potential BMP sites, planned conservation practices, and monitoring of water quality with nutrient parameters, CLMP and MiCorps protocols, as well as electrofishing.
Impacts on Water Quality
Salinization of our inland lakes: A potential ticking time bomb
Alan Steinman, Grand Valley State University
De-icing salts applied to roadways serve an important safety role during winter weather. However, these salts also can runoff into our waterways, where they sink to lake bottoms due to their heavy density. At sufficiently high concentrations, they can have impacts to the biological, chemical, and physical integrity of lakes. Because most of these impacts occur in the hypolimnion, they are not visible to lakefront homeowners. We have been studying a chain of lakes in Grand Rapids that are impacted from road salt runoff, which has resulted in high chloride and phosphorus concentrations. The lake closest to the highway runoff has chloride concentrations exceeding state of Michigan standards and total phosphorus concentrations exceeding 5 mg/L. Even the two lakes farther downstream have high chloride and total phosphorus concentrations, despite tenuous surface water connections, suggesting salt contamination in the groundwater. Piezometers were installed to test this hypothesis, providing partial confirmation. This presentation will provide an overview of the studies conducted on these lakes, examine possible solutions, and discuss next steps to assess if this issue is an isolated phenomenon or common in Michigan’s inland lakes.
Some recent patterns of recreational water quality on Michigan's inland lakes
James McNair and Richard R. Rediske, Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute; and Shannon Briggs, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Fecal pollution is one of the most common causes of impairment of surface waters in countries around the world, including the United States. Levels of fecal pollution typically are assessed by measuring concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) or enterococci. Epidemiological studies have shown that total-body contact with recreational waters exhibiting elevated FIB concentrations is associated with elevated incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses. Michigan has therefore established recreational water quality standards (RWQS) that include criteria for E. coli pollution and protect human health for partial and total body contact. Michigan also awards federal and state funds to local health departments across the state to monitor E. coli pollution at recreational beaches. Approximately 400 beaches are monitored every summer, with about 200 located on inland lakes. In this presentation, we provide a brief overview of Michigan’s RWQS and beach monitoring program, the different methods used to quantify E. coli pollution, and the kinds of data produced. We then outline several recreational water quality patterns for inland lake beaches at the state and county levels that have emerged from beach monitoring data in recent years (e.g., percentiles of E. coli concentration, frequency of RWQS exceedances, relative merits of culture-based and PCR-based methods for quantifying E. coli) and compare some of these with corresponding patterns for Michigan’s coastal beaches on the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair. We close with a brief overview of some current issues being addressed by beach monitoring programs in Michigan and elsewhere.
5-Minute Lightning Talks
Tell your story in the Michigan Riparian magazine!
Melissa DeSimone, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association
I will highlight some of the great stories we've been able to tell in The Michigan Riparian magazine since the 1960s. Then I will discuss how individuals and organizations can work with us to celebrate their achievements in water quality and the unique qualities of their favorite inland lake in Michigan.
Growing appreciation for lakes through the MSU Extension Introduction to Lakes Online course
Paige Filice, Bindu Bhakta, Kelsey Bockelman, and Erick Elgin, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension; Julia Kirkwood, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Jo Latimore, MSU;Bradley Neumann and Mary Reilly, MSU Extension; and Lois Wolfson, MSU
Introduction to Lakes Online is a unique synchronous course featuring six units related to inland lake ecology and conservation administered by Michigan State University Extension. This six-week course equips residents, decision makers, and local leaders with science-based information needed to address lake management concerns by increasing lake literacy and creating peer and resource connections. Participants learn about lakes through an innovative combination of technology including narrated videos, interactive learning activities, discussion forums, Zoom webinars, and timed content releases. Since 2015 2,180 participants from 35 states have learned about the ecological value of inland lakes, best management practices, and resources available to protect them. Join this session to learn about the course, our educational accomplishments, and how you can sign up for the January 2025 offering.
Using Sentinel-3 OLCI imagery to quantify methane emissions from Michigan's estuaries
Jillian Greene and Ashtyn Gluck, GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute; Michael Philben, Hope College; Bopaiah Biddanda and Sean Woznicki, GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute
Lakes and other aquatic ecosystems are natural contributors to the carbon cycle, including production and emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG). However, estimates of their contribution to global GHG emissions is largely unconstrained. Sampling for methane emissions is both time and equipment intensive and costly. Because of this, few studies have examined the quantification and drivers of lake methane production in temperate climates, and how it may change with climate and land use change. Recent research has identified the potential for quantifying methane emissions from lakes using remote sensing proxies of lake parameters in machine learning models. Operational remote sensing can be used to fill the gap in unmonitored lakes based on the relationship between optical signatures of water characteristics and in situ gas emissions. In my research, I will measure methane and carbon dioxide emissions from three drowned river mouth estuaries of Lake Michigan along a latitudinal gradient of varying watershed land use and climates. The sampling design incorporates the build and deployment of low-cost, autonomous greenhouse gas samplers in each lake. Sentinel-3 OLCI and SLSTR instruments will be used to calculate chlorophyll, lake surface temperature, diffuse attenuation coefficients, and photosynthetically active radiation across lakes. With the results, I will examine the accuracy of using remote sensing parameters to quantify methane emissions and identify key drivers of production in lake ecosystems to advance our understanding of Earth’s changing climate.
Incorporating certified cleaning/personal care products into lake management systems
Lisa Henderson, and Sara Risley, Green Seal
Harmful chemicals, including PFAS, end up in lakes either directly from using cleaning/personal care products near the water or indirectly through wastewater. Lake management policies that encourage residents to use certified products, such as Green Seal, is an effective way to speed up the elimination of PFAS and other harmful chemicals in supply chains, and ultimately stop the continued introduction of these chemicals into our water supply. Green Seal Certified products undergo a full chemical review and disclosure down to 100ppm. Ingredient details and inventories from manufacturers and their raw material suppliers are collected under non-disclosure agreements and inert chemicals, impurities, and residual chemicals are all analyzed during this chemical inventory. In addition to prohibiting chemicals that are harmful to humans, certified products are also evaluated for their effects on water through four criteria: Eutrophication, Toxicity to Aquatic Life, Bioaccumulation, and Aquatic Biodegradability. Our restriction on using PFAS also works in conjunction with federal efforts to mitigate PFAS from drinking water. Removing harmful chemicals from our water supply is key to preventing continued environmental pollution. Educating lake residents through management policies about the benefits Green Seal certified products and how to find them is best practice and we look forward to discussing ecolabelling and the impacts on our lakes. Our mission is to protect human health and the environment by accelerating the adoption of products that are safer and more sustainable and believe that lake communities have a direct interest in making safer, more sustainable products the norm.
Winning the war with invasive species
Wayne Hodges, Lakeville Lake
Lakeville is a 460 all sports lake located in northeast Oakland County with a typical water depth of 20 feet or less. The lake has one ingress and one egress and is fed by numerous springs. Lakeville boating activities include a 39 slip Public Boat Access Site managed by the MDNR, two privately owned Marinas with a total of 76 slips and 212 property owners entitled to two boats per property. Lakeville has participated in the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program since 1980. Historically lake navigability has been negatively affected by indigenous weed growth. In 1979 the property owners formed a Special Assessment District and a Lake Improvement Board to ensure consistent funding of the necessary weed harvesting activities. In 1986 two weed harvesters were purchased and the mechanical harvesting of Lakeville's ~200 acres of weeds has been an annual event ever since. By 2004 the two weed harvesters were no longer able to maintain acceptable lake navigation. During 2004 Aquatic Vegetation expert Doug Pullman declared that Lakeville Lake had the worst infestation of the invasive species Eurasian Milfoil and Starry Stonewort he had ever observed. No corrective action was available, so an annual chemical treatment program was prescribed along with the ongoing Mechanical Harvesting program to prevent further loss of navigability. Through the utilization of available science and self-education, Lakeville Lake has stitched together a comprehensive program including a network of various Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin experts plus other Michigan Lake Property Associations. Today the water in Lakeville Lake is clear, navigable, the native vegetation species are recovering and the fish are aplenty. We invite you to learn how.
Finding natural shoreline resources
Julia Kirkwood, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership has many resources to assist in learning about natural shorelines and taking the next step towards educating others, and improving shorelines. Join Julia Kirkwood, MNSPs Chair, as she highlights a variety of resources for you to explore.
Friday, October 4: 8:30 AM
Keynote Presentation: The public does care about science news
Sheri McWhirter, climate reporter, MLive Media Group
Attention spans are short and news cycles move fast. But it turns out that people do care about environmental science and news. You simply need the right equation.
Friday, October 4: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions
Watershed Conservation
Getting your feet wet: An overview of the why, how, and who for watershed management
Julia Kirkwood, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Join us as we wade into the basics of watershed management and why a plan is important. You will be introduced to an overview of the steps involved and how to get started. We will also discuss the basics of the specific criteria for an approved plan that are applicable to all types of watersheds.
Dive into the details: Methods for identifying sources and problems
Jack Cotrone, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
No two watersheds are the same! Before determining the best solutions for improving water quality in rivers and lakes, we need to get to know our watershed through a data-driven characterization process. Join us to learn about the different inventory methods used to identify pollution problems and sources in watersheds and see examples of how these inventories can be applied to create lake-focused watershed plans capable of meeting the needs of lakes of all kinds.
Setting sail: Putting your approved watershed plan to work
Teresa Salveta, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Join us as we discuss how to improve and protect water quality by putting your watershed management plan to work. In this session, we will review examples of implementation projects, including best management practices, land protection, and education/outreach, and learn how watershed plans can help to leverage a variety of funding opportunities.
Zebra and Quagga Mussels
Data review to objectively characterize changes in water quality trends related to zebra mussel infestation
Paul Hausler, Hailee Lamorandier, Rick Buteyn, Jared Laughlin, and Luke Aaron, Progressive Companies
Data mining of an existing large database of several Michigan inland lakes that experienced zebra mussel infestations in the 1990s and early 2000s revealed that key parameters may be projecting differential trophic status calculations. Are these dissonant results based on nutrient cycling changes in relation to the extreme filtering capacity of zebra mussels and the resultant localized effects on the phytoplankton and macrophyte communities? Data will be presented to make this case.
Do dreissenids influence lake trophic status metrics?
Mark Luttenton, Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute
The tropic state of lakes has been a central topic in limnology for decades. The original concept was generally focused on the accumulation of biomass (production) and helped characterize lake condition as a lake becomes progressively more productive or “eutrophic”. Since the 1970s, phosphorus, Secchi depth, and chlorophyll a have been used to calculate the Trophic Status Index (TSI) to serve as a surrogate for complex limnological conditions linked to trophic state. However, several factors have emerged, particularly the introduction of dreissenid mussels, since the TSI was developed. Because dreissenids redirect organic material and nutrients to the benthos, standard TSI metrics may not provide an accurate measure of lake trophic status. For example, Higgins Lake, MI, is considered to be a high quality, oligotrophic system with very low phosphorus concentrations, very low Chlorophyll a concentrations, and good visibility. However, Higgins Lake has accumulated significant amounts of organic sediment, has declining DO in deep basins, supports significant plant biomass, and has large dreissenid populations. In addition, large concentrations of phosphorus are tied up in the organic sediments and dreissenids. I suggest that recent TSI values have been influenced by dreissenids and are not a true representation of tropic condition (production), resulting in a lack of concern within the community. In general, TSI metrics may not reflect actual trophic conditions and associated changes occurring in lakes with established dreissenid populations.
Community Stewardship
Lake Leelanau Shoreline Ambassadors - Helping improve the shoreline one property at a time
Annalise Povolo, Lake Leelanau Lake Association
The Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) began a Shoreline Stewards Program in 2022 to grow a community of people who know and care about protecting the shoreline. Using materials from the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership’s Shoreline Stewards Program and other State and regional resources, LLLA has created its own training program to certify its “Shoreline Ambassadors”. Upon completion of the training program, the Shoreline Ambassadors work together to perform Shoreline Consultations for Lake Leelanau riparians at their homes. These consultations educate riparians on shoreline erosion prevention, reducing stormwater runoff, native plant recommendations, and other ways in which to naturalize the shoreline. Since 2022, LLLA has consulted on about 65 Lake Leelanau properties (and counting) and estimates that nearly 1.25 miles of shoreline will be improved upon based on the consultations. To gain interest in the consultations, LLLA has employed several techniques that have proven successful in increasing sign-ups. In the Association’s monthly eBulletins, they frequently feature seasonally relevant blog articles on shoreline stewardship-related topics to continue to educate their community on the importance of shoreline best management practices to protect the lake’s health. Each eBulletin includes a promotion for the Shoreline Consultations, and LLLA recently took advantage of their local conservation district’s native shoreline plant sale to promote a “Native Plant Giveaway” for those who signed up for a Shoreline Consultation. This promotion resulted in about 25 sign-ups within just a couple of months! LLLA is excited to share their success and lessons learned with others.
How to get your neighbor to build a rain garden - Behavior change for the social good
Susan Bryan, Washtenaw County Water Resources
Lessons learned from a behavior-change program that improves water quality in our inland lakes. We know rain gardens improve our local surface waters. And every private property owner’s runoff affects our local lakes – so we have no choice but to work with the neighbors. But how do you get those neighbors to do the right thing? What inspires change in the world – and actually gets the work done? Maybe you see places in your world that could use a rain garden. That could capture some rain water, harness the power of native plants, create habitat? But how to get that pesky homeowner on the ball? Step one: build a gorgeous rain garden yourself. Then watch those bees come to the honey. Just like in parenting, people do what you do. Not what you say. The power of influence, plus a whole lot of other techniques to remove barriers, create community, and get started. Get ready for a fun dip into the depths of what motivates us, and inspires us to do good in the world. The Master Rain Gardener program, of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, has became a state-wide certification in 2015, and has spread to 15 communities in the Great Lakes states including Michigan, Canada and Ohio. Over 2,000 rain gardens have been built by homeowners in Michigan through the program.
Wake Boats
A literature review of wake boat effects on aquatic habitat
Joe Nohner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
As co-author of A Literature Review of Wake Boat Effects on Aquatic Habitat, Joe will discuss the scientific studies that have been published about wake boats and the educational recommendations of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division to protect aquatic life in inland lakes. This presentation includes a review of the existing scientific literature regarding wake boats and provides best operating practice recommendations for wake boat operation to minimize effects on aquatic natural resources. It does not address public safety or social considerations related to wake boat
operation, nor does it provide Departmental recommendations for regulation or legislation.
The property owner perspective and actions to take
David Maturen, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association; and Cliff Bloom, Bloom Sluggett, PC
This portion of the session will discuss the wake boat issue from the perspective of Michigan's waterfront property owners and briefly detail the concerns of environmental groups across the country. Dave will then discuss the next steps for HB 5532 and how individuals can and should become involved in the political process to affect change.
Guided discussion on wake boat issues
Melissa DeSimone, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association
This section will be a question and answer style discussion with predetermined questions and time for audience questions as well. We will focus on wake boat concerns and how to work together for the protection of our lakes and property.
[Workshop] Watch List Invasive Aquatic Plant Hands-On Training
Billy Keiper, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Hands-on training on all the watch list invasive aquatic plants in Michigan. Specimens will likely include water lettuce, water hyacinth, water-primrose, yellow floating heart, parrot feather, hydrilla, and European water clover. Come see these species first hand and learn key identifying characteristics.
Friday, October 4: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Watershed Conservation
Conservation easements: Protecting our rivers and lakes
Julia Kirkwood, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Michigan’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Program is charged with Restoring and Protecting our waterways from polluted runoff through the voluntary watershed management process. Preventing problems is always better than having to restore a waterbody that has been degraded. One of the important protection tools we use are conservation easements which prevent problems and help to provide permanent protection for that portion of the lake or river. Join Julia Kirkwood as she discusses how the NPS Program has provided funding for prioritizing areas for protection on a watershed basis and conservation easements across the State to help protect healthy lakes and streams.
Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner: A tool to understand your lake's watershed
Joe Nohner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
What are the main threats to lakes in your area? Whether you’re concerned about a single lake, lakes across a county, or lakes statewide, maps of your watershed and its land cover are an important first step in understanding threats to lake health. The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership’s Conservation Planner provides shoreland and watershed data for every lake in the state. These data can be used to tailor nutrient protection strategies at a broad scale to improve water quality, cool- and cold-water fish habitat, and many of the other benefits that lakes provide.
Lake watershed management for climate resistant fishes
Joe Nohner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Imagine the relief jumping into a cold, clear lake on a hot August day. Did you know lake fishes need relief from the summer heat as well? Protecting cool- and cold-water habitats is an important way that we can reduce the effects of climate change on susceptible fishes like Walleye, Cisco, Sturgeon, and others. This presentation will discuss methods to prioritize lakes for cool- and cold-water habitat protection through watershed management. These approaches draw upon statistical models of projected changes in lake temperatures and watershed nutrient sources, analyses of statewide data from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Department of Natural Resources, and the Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program, and more.
Aquatic Plants and Wild Rice
Point intercept sampling for aquatic macrophytes in Northern Michigan inland lakes
Jeremy Hartsock, Daniel Hayes, and Jo Latimore, Michigan State University (MSU); Erick Elgin, MSU Extension
Submersed macrophytes strongly influence the structure and function of inland lakes. However, quantitative data are broadly lacking on the distribution and abundance of aquatic macrophytes in northern Michigan. To fill these knowledge gaps, we performed macrophyte surveys at 75 inland lakes in DNR Fisheries Division’s Northern Lake Huron and Eastern Lake Superior management units using a modified point-intercept survey approach whereby a double sided rake was tossed twice at each sampling point (~100 points sampled per lake). Among all lakes surveyed a total of 60 macrophyte species were observed. The most species rich lake contained 32 species and the most species poor contained 3 species. Of note, we detected aquatic invasive species (AIS) in nearly half of the lakes surveyed. Invasive watermilfoil and starry stonewort were the most frequently observed AIS. An occupancy analysis revealed that a single rake toss approach underestimates the true occurrence of aquatic macrophytes due to incomplete detection probability. We also show that a single rake toss approach yields similar estimates of species richness but requires more points to be sampled than a two rake toss approach. Our experience is that approximately 100 points could be sampled per day with a two rake toss approach, yielding observed species richness close to predicted richness, and providing reasonable precision of estimates of coverage for common species. Future research will focus on comparing our modified point intercept survey to other macrophyte survey approaches utilized by EGLE professionals (e.g., Aquatic Vegetation Assessment Site (AVAS) and targeted snorkel surveys).
The relationship between manoomin and the Anishinaabe
Roger LaBine, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
The Michigan Wild Rice Initiative and the recently passed manoomin bill
Roger LaBine, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Local Conservation
Working with local government to protect and improve inland lakes
Amanda Knutson and Kyle O'Meara, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC
Inland lakes offer many benefits to the communities in which they are located. Lakes can attract visitors, encourage economic development, and offer recreational opportunities for residents. Because of the unique value lakes provide, local units of government and lake residents often have aligned interests in implementing projects to protect and improve their lakes. There are three primary mechanisms that authorize local units of government to improve lakes in Michigan. First, general special assessment statutes allow townships, villages, and cities to implement a wide variety of inland lake improvements, such as weed control or dredging. Similarly, Part 309 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act allows for the formation of a “Lake Improvement Board” that includes governmental officials and lake residents to administer lake improvement projects. Finally, Part 307 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act sets forth a process for establishment of legal lakes levels maintained by a county. Join attorneys Kyle O’Meara and Amanda Knutson to learn more about how lake residents can work with their respective local government officials to implement lake improvement projects to improve and protect inland lakes throughout Michigan.
Cleaning the Boardman River required a doctor
Steve Largent, Grand Traverse Conservation District; and Norman Fred, Boardman River Clean Sweep
Doctor Norman Fred, a Traverse City dentist, talked to his patients, a captured audience, regarding his passion to paddle local rivers. He also mentioned how much garbage he would always pick up while paddling. Upon his retirement Norm acted on his passion and created the non-profit Boardman River Clean Sweep (BRCS) in 2004 and began cleaning local rivers in partnership with the Traverse Area Paddle Club. The following year he teamed up with the Grand Traverse Conservation District to submit a grant proposal to Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program administered by the Great Lakes Commission for the MDEQ. Every year since, the Conservation District and BRCS have submitted and received a grant to conduct an annual clean-up of the Boardman which has removed literally tons of trash from the Boardman and has involved thousands of volunteers.
Regional meetings 2.0: Bringing back local networking!
Melissa DeSimone, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association
This session will discuss how to create organized networking on the local level and keep it going. We will discuss the benefits of in-person local meetings as well as online networking and how these functions may be structured and maintained. I will provide tools and coaching to help individuals and groups get the most out of their networks.
Lake Management Tools
A practical guide for genetic surveys in Eurasian watermilfoil management and initial insights on rapid herbicide assays
Ashley Wolfe and Ryan Thum, Montana State University; Raymond Newman, University of Minnesota; and Alex Bacjz, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Center
Invasive watermilfoil strains can differ in their growth, spread, impacts and herbicide response. For example, strains of both Eurasian (Myriophyllum spicatum) and hybrid (M. spicatum x M. sibiricum) watermilfoil (collectively referred to as Eurasian watermilfoil) have been characterized as resistant or susceptible to specific herbicides (e.g. fluridone and 2,4-D). Identifying resistant and susceptible strains can inform managers as to whether a specific herbicide should be used to treat a lake. One practical challenge is that herbicide response data is missing for most watermilfoil strains, and characterizing every strain is not feasible. Integrating genetic surveying and monitoring could help prioritize strains for herbicide characterization. In this presentation, we provide practical guidelines for genetic sampling, identify key signatures to streamline strain prioritization, and provide an update on the development of rapid herbicide assays. To date, we have identified over 300 strains from over 290 lakes across the United States sent by state agencies, aquatic plant managers and citizen scientists. We have built a user-friendly application, MilfoilMapper, to house strain distribution and herbicide response information, and to make them available to the public. In addition, we are developing small-scale herbicide assays to increase the number of characterized strains. We envision an operational workflow where the integrating of genetic survey and monitoring into Eurasian watermilfoil management plans helps identify priority strains for efficient herbicide characterization.
Inland lake shoreline assessment tool and best management practices in Michigan
Eric Calabro, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has developed a new assessment tool for assessing wave energy and erosion on inland lake shorelines. The Inland Lake Shoreline Energy Assessment standardizes evaluation of erosion and educates the public on important shoreline characteristics. The assessment uses coastal engineering equations and current boating activity data, along with user-submitted information, to automatically provide an estimated wave height classification for the inland lake property of interest. Once the online assessment is submitted, a report is automatically emailed to the address provided. The report contains the estimated wave height classifications, pictures, and assessment responses on the energy that a site may experience. One of the goals of creating this assessment is to assist in designing energy-appropriate shoreline protection that minimizes impacts to inland lakes. The report that is generated can be uploaded into the MiEnviro portal as part of inland lake shoreline protection permit applications and can be used by shoreline contractors, consultants, homeowners, and EGLE staff when designing or reviewing shoreline protection projects. The report can also be used to compare the energy level of inland lake properties or to compare a property to those included in EGLE’s Bioengineering Story Map. The Inland Lake Shoreline Energy Assessment can be found, along with other inland lake and shoreline resources and information, on EGLE’s Shoreline Protection webpage.
[Workshop] Conservation and Best Management Practices of Amphibians and Reptiles in Inland Lakes Systems
David Misfud and Melissa Sano, Herpetological Resource and Management
Amphibians and reptiles are important indicators of ecosystem function, making their conservation efforts crucial for maintaining environmental health. This presentation will focus on the natural history, distribution, and conservation of Michigan's amphibians and reptiles, regionally referred to as herpetofauna, particularly in relation to inland lake systems. By attending this workshop, you will gain valuable knowledge about the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be implemented to protect and enhance the habitat for these remarkable creatures within inland lake communities. We will also highlight various ways individuals can actively participate in amphibian and reptile conservation through initiatives like the Michigan Herpetological Atlas and organizations such as the Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy. Additionally, we will introduce the Michigan Herpetofauna Habitat Assessment Tool (Herp HAT) and its applications in safeguarding landscapes and species. Join us to explore how you can contribute to the preservation of Michigan's diverse amphibians and reptiles.
Friday, October 4: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions
Watershed Conservation
Forest to MI Faucet program
Mike Smalligan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The DNR Forest Stewardship Program is leading a team of twenty conservation partners on a new initiative called “Forest to Mi Faucet” to explain how forests in Michigan protect our drinking water. The project builds on the national Forests to Faucets 2.0 analysis identifying priority watersheds for protecting surface drinking water in the United States. Forests protect water quality for everyone and can lower treatment costs for municipal water utilities. Watersheds with forests covering more than half of the land area tend to have better water quality than those with fewer trees. Watersheds with lots of people, farms and factories tend to have poorer water quality. This presentation will discuss prioritization of watersheds for sourcewater protection and identify strategies for improving that protection.
Lake boards and other mechanisms for locally-drive conservation: Examples from Newaygo County
Dale Twing, Newaygo County Drain Commission
As Newaygo County Drain Commissioner, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, and member of six lake boards, Dale will provide insight into how lake boards can be used for the betterment of Newaygo County Lakes. This strategy can be effective to implement conservation and research projects for lakes.
Project Clarity: Restoring a watershed through community collaborations
Travis Williams, Outdoor Discovery Center
Project Clarity is a community-wide partnership committed to improving the health and clarity of Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa Watershed. This legacy project will have a lasting, profound impact on the economy, environment, and community as a whole. The project focuses on restoration projects, implementation of best management practices, and education to accomplish its objectives.
People and Lakes
Getting to know Pickerel Lake: Multi-media exploration of a small aquatic plant dominated inland lake
William Brown, Michigan Waterfront Alliance/McNALMS
Utilizing underwater, terrestrial, and aerial photos and videos, this 30 minute MS Power Point based presentation will provide viewers with a close-up look at Pickerel Lake's geology, morphology, and moderately productive, aquatic plant dominated aquatic ecosystem. The 30 minute presentation will feature aerial photos of Pickerel Lake's sub-watershed area, natural shoreline as well as underwater still photos and videos of the lake's thriving and incredibly diverse littoral zone.
Shallow lakes don't stink
Colleen Gleason and Matt Conrad, Ducks Unlimited
Close your eyes and picture a lake, what comes to mind? Maybe you are thinking of large, deep, open water with ample swimming and boating locations. Now think of a body of water that is less than 15 feet deep, is heavily vegetated and may occasionally produce an odor when it gets warmer out, what would you call this? This might be classified as a shallow lake; although they do not provide the recreational opportunities that always come to mind, shallow lakes don’t stink! Shallow lakes in Michigan are important ecosystems. Unfortunately, sometimes we try to use these areas the same as deep water lakes. Shallow lakes may not meet the aesthetic or recreational opportunities often associated with lakes, but they hold so many benefits. They help maintain water quality, recharge groundwater, and provide wildlife habitat to a large variety of species. Residents play a key role in maintaining healthy shallow lakes - even if you do not live on a shoreline, your property is still connected to nearby surface water, and you can help promote the importance of clean water! Interested in learning more about shallow lakes? Join the Michigan Ducks Unlimited biologists to learn more about how shallow lakes were geologically formed, their importance to water quality, wildlife, and humans, and best management practices.
Riparian Law and Rights
Michigan riparian and littoral boundaries and access rights
William Carey and W. Dane Carey, Carey Jaskowski PLC; Robert Frye, Michigan Waterfront Alliance
This presentation will be done in a question-and-answer format only. Attendees should come prepared to ask questions that are of interest to themselves or the organizations they represent. Topics include: Michigan common law, Statutory and regulatory law, Public trust doctrine, Riparian rights, Determining navigability, Erosion and accretion, Meanders, Artificial improvements, Public access to public waters, Easements, Land use issues including short-term rentals, and Amendments to the Marketable Title Act. The Attorneys-at-Law co-presenters will answer questions via Zoom. Both attorneys are northern Michigan natives who understand the nuances of practicing law and operating businesses in the great north. They have complied an impressive number of appellate decisions regarding access to public waters and plat vacations. Michigan Waterfront Alliance President Robert Frye will serve as the session facilitator and will enable effective communication between the Zoom enabled remote presenters and the audience.
[Workshop] Introduction to Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy and R.A.I.L. Project App Support for Identification
Keith Piccard, Grand Valley State University
Macroinvertebrates serve as vital biological indicators, reflecting varied sensitivity to in-stream disturbances and enabling effective assessment of stream health. Accurate identification of these organisms is crucial for determining the correct water quality rating of a river or stream. This workshop will introduce participants to aquatic macroinvertebrate taxonomy, cover identification basics, and include hands-on practice with the R.A.I.L. App. The workshop will be divided into two sections. In section one, participants will receive a brief introduction to aquatic macroinvertebrate taxonomy and learn about the practical application of macroinvertebrate identification for assessing water quality. Key characteristics of macroinvertebrate orders, focusing on commonly encountered types, will be covered. This section will conclude with a demonstration of the R.A.I.L. App, which identifies aquatic macroinvertebrates, analyzes water samples using metrics and indices, and generates comprehensive reports. In section two, participants will be split into two groups to use the R.A.I.L. App to identify live macroinvertebrates from local streams. One sample will be from a disturbed stream and the other from a minimally disturbed, forested stream. Data from both groups will be entered and analyzed in real time. This section will conclude with a comparison of the two samples, using different indices to determine which stream has experienced greater disturbance.
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