Celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month by committing to learn more about Michigan’s lakes
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EmailRegister today for the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention.
July is Lakes Appreciation Month! This initiative, sponsored by the North American Lake Management Society, encourages us all to show our appreciation for our lakes. What better way to celebrate Michigan’s 11,000+ lakes than to commit to learn more about lakes at the third biennial Michigan Inland Lakes Convention? The Convention will take place October 4-5, 2018, in Grand Rapids. Register for the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention and prepare to dive into current inland lakes research, best management practices, and stewardship opportunities through engaging presentations and poster sessions, stimulating discussions, and exciting workshops and field trips.
The 2018 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention theme is “Working Together For Healthy Lakes,” and is a joint event with the Michigan Clean Water Corps’ (MiCorps) Annual Volunteer Monitoring Conference. Join the conversation on surface water quality in Michigan, along with learning how to protect, enjoy, and manage our beloved inland lakes. Convention attendees will include lake management practitioners, researchers, state and local agency staff, educators, students, inland lake enthusiasts, riparian owners, conservationists, lake stewards, and local water governance personnel.
Family enjoying fishing on a Michigan Inland Lake. Photo by D. Kenyon.
Discover Collaboration and Partnership Opportunities
The Convention will kick off with a welcome reception on Wednesday evening, October 3. Thursday morning, two outstanding keynote speakers - Bill Creal, former Water Resources Division Chief for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Lisa Borre of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies - will set the tone for the Convention along the theme of "Working Together for Healthy Lakes" - on local, state, and global scales. Breakout thematic sessions will follow on Thursday afternoon. The day concludes with an evening reception highlighting posters and educational displays. Friday morning, the thematic breakout sessions will continue, and Friday afternoon will offer a variety of workshops, field trips, and breakout sessions.
Session themes include: Invasive Species. Lake and Watershed Management, Lake Monitoring, Water Law, Lake Levels, Fisheries and Natural Resource Management, Public Health/Septic Systems, Lake Stewardship, Aquatic, Plants, Natural Shorelines, Volunteer Monitoring/Citizen Science, Water Conservation, and Contaminants.
Michigan's inland lakes bring joy to all ages. Photo by R. Cook.
Get Involved with Convention Activities
Show your appreciation for Michigan’s lakes by participating in the 2018 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention Photo Contest. Submit photos you have taken on, in, or next to your favorite inland lake on social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) using #MILCPhotoContest2018. Contest winners will receive cash prizes!
You can also get involved by sponsoring a student scholarship or hosting an education table highlighting your organization. Details on all of these opportunities are available on the Convention web page.
The Convention results from the collaborative efforts of many organizations, truly embodying the theme of “Working Together for Healthy Lakes”: Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Aquatic Managers Association, Northwestern Michigan College, the Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society, the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, and the MSU Institute of Water Research. Funding support has been provided by Michigan State University Extension; Michigan Lake Stewardship Associations; the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; CD3, General Benefit Corporation; the MSU Institute of Water Research, Aqua-Weed Control, the Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society, and Environmental Risk Managers. This is an opportunity to learn from prominent leaders in science and lake management. Perhaps most importantly, it is an opportunity to unite to learn best protection, prevention, and preservation practices for the waters of the Great Lakes State that so many call home!
