Past Events
If you missed a presentation or webinar, you can download or view recordings of them below.
Ice Breaker Speaker Series, 2023
The Ecosystem Impacts of Road Salt Use- January 11, 2023
Once salt goes down, it doesn't go away. Salt levels are rising up in lakes, streams, and drinking water across the country. Allison Madison, Sustainability and Development Coordinator for Wisconsin Salt Wise breaks down the science of freshwater salinization and why we need smarter salting in our communities.
Microplastics in the Great Lakes - January 25, 2023
More than 22 million pounds of plastic pollution end up in the Great Lakes every year. Carolyn Foley, Research Coordinator for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant at Purdue University, will share information about microplastics in the Great Lakes. She has been involved in a collaborative effort to study impacts of plastic litter distribution through the Great Lakes watershed, the integration of plastics into Great Lakes food webs, and innovations to prevent plastic litter from entering freshwater systems.
She manages competitive research programs, communicates research outcomes, co-hosts the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, and conducts original research. She has collaborated with Great Lakes scientists from USGS, US EPA, NOAA, the Illinois Natural History Survey, both Illinois and Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Programs, consulting companies, and many other academic institutions.
Carolyn received a BSc in biology from the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and an MS in entomology from Purdue University, Indiana, USA. She maintains an active research program with the Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Fish Ecology Lab (Tomas Hook, PI), with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Science of the Total Environment, Climatic Change, Ecological Indicators, and the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
Links mentioned in this presentation:
Microplastics may increase the risk of PFAS entering the Lake Michigan food web
Great Lakes Fish Contain Record Levels of Microplastics
Muskegon Lake Microplastics Study
Microplastic pollution more complex than we think, says new research
A meta-analysis of the effects of exposure to microplastics on fish and aquatic invertebrates
Great Lakes Plastic Clean Up
University of Michigan "The Plastic Bag Store"
She manages competitive research programs, communicates research outcomes, co-hosts the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, and conducts original research. She has collaborated with Great Lakes scientists from USGS, US EPA, NOAA, the Illinois Natural History Survey, both Illinois and Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Programs, consulting companies, and many other academic institutions.
Carolyn received a BSc in biology from the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and an MS in entomology from Purdue University, Indiana, USA. She maintains an active research program with the Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Fish Ecology Lab (Tomas Hook, PI), with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Science of the Total Environment, Climatic Change, Ecological Indicators, and the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
Links mentioned in this presentation:
Microplastics may increase the risk of PFAS entering the Lake Michigan food web
Great Lakes Fish Contain Record Levels of Microplastics
Muskegon Lake Microplastics Study
Microplastic pollution more complex than we think, says new research
A meta-analysis of the effects of exposure to microplastics on fish and aquatic invertebrates
Great Lakes Plastic Clean Up
University of Michigan "The Plastic Bag Store"
Our Emerging Climate Challenge- February 8, 2023
Observed and projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation, and more intense extreme weather events are impacting the Great Lakes. Knute Nadelhoffer, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, will discuss the implications, strategies for mitigating future climate changes, as well as possibilities for adaptation to current and future changes.
Nadelhoffer is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Ecological Society of America (ESA). He served as Director of the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) on Douglas Lake in Northern Michigan from 2003 through his retirement in December 2020. He is an ecologist with expertise on forest and arctic tundra ecosystems and their interactions with the global climate system. He serves on the Board of Directors and the Science Advisory Council of the Environmental Law and Policy Center (www.elpc.org), a non-profit organization that advocates for scientifically based environmental and energy policies in the Great Lakes region and Midwestern states.
Additional resources:
Tip of the Mitt's Climate Change Resources
Drought Monitor
NASA Global heat maps
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
Nadelhoffer is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Ecological Society of America (ESA). He served as Director of the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) on Douglas Lake in Northern Michigan from 2003 through his retirement in December 2020. He is an ecologist with expertise on forest and arctic tundra ecosystems and their interactions with the global climate system. He serves on the Board of Directors and the Science Advisory Council of the Environmental Law and Policy Center (www.elpc.org), a non-profit organization that advocates for scientifically based environmental and energy policies in the Great Lakes region and Midwestern states.
Additional resources:
Tip of the Mitt's Climate Change Resources
Drought Monitor
NASA Global heat maps
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
Bioengineering for Healthier Shorelines- February 22, 2023
Bioengineering brings together biological, ecological, and engineering concepts to produce a living, functioning system to prevent or repair erosion along lakeshores and streambanks. Noah Jansen, Restoration Coordinator for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will discuss the basic principles and design techniques for bioengineering projects.
Noah Jansen completed a master’s degree in forest ecology at the University of Florida. He worked as a lead research technician of forest ecology research at the J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Georgia before moving to Northern Michigan, where he served as the Conservationist for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resource Department for nearly eight years. In his current role as the Restoration Coordinator at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, he promotes green stormwater infrastructure and rain gardens, designs nature-based shoreline protection, enhances stream habitat through improvements to road/stream crossings and dam removals, and provides support on managing invasive species.
Additional resources:
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council’s Shoreline Restoration
Ask Simon YouTube video
EGLE joint permit information
Apply for joint permit
EGLE Shoreline Protection
Tip of the Mitt Green Infrastructure Tools
Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership
Noah Jansen completed a master’s degree in forest ecology at the University of Florida. He worked as a lead research technician of forest ecology research at the J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Georgia before moving to Northern Michigan, where he served as the Conservationist for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resource Department for nearly eight years. In his current role as the Restoration Coordinator at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, he promotes green stormwater infrastructure and rain gardens, designs nature-based shoreline protection, enhances stream habitat through improvements to road/stream crossings and dam removals, and provides support on managing invasive species.
Additional resources:
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council’s Shoreline Restoration
Ask Simon YouTube video
EGLE joint permit information
Apply for joint permit
EGLE Shoreline Protection
Tip of the Mitt Green Infrastructure Tools
Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership
Anishinaabe Natural Resource Stewardship in Northern Michigan- March 8, 2023
Tribal fishermen have been fishing the Great Lakes for thousands of years. Gary Michaud, Inland Fisheries Biologist for the LTBB Odawa Natural Resources Department, will give an overview of LTBB's upcoming Fisheries work and an explanation of LTBB rights to act as stewards for natural resources in northern Michigan as outlined by the 1836 Treaty of Washington.
Please note we've had a change in speaker. Gary Michaud is the Inland Fisheries Biologist for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB). He has worked and lived in northern Michigan since 2013 and considers himself to be very fortunate to be surrounded by the most beautiful waters in the United States. He worked for LTBB for 6 years in two other programs, the Great Lakes Research and Fisheries Enhancement programs, before settling in the Inland Fish and Wildlife work group, which is responsible for conducting research in the inland waters of the 1836 Treaty Ceded Territory. Although northern Michigan is his home, Gary originally hails from Milford, MI. Central Michigan University is his alma mater where he earned his M.S. in Conservation Biology by studying Cisco in Lake Michigan.
Additional Resources:
2007 Inland Consent Decree
LTBB Natural Resources Department
Please note we've had a change in speaker. Gary Michaud is the Inland Fisheries Biologist for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB). He has worked and lived in northern Michigan since 2013 and considers himself to be very fortunate to be surrounded by the most beautiful waters in the United States. He worked for LTBB for 6 years in two other programs, the Great Lakes Research and Fisheries Enhancement programs, before settling in the Inland Fish and Wildlife work group, which is responsible for conducting research in the inland waters of the 1836 Treaty Ceded Territory. Although northern Michigan is his home, Gary originally hails from Milford, MI. Central Michigan University is his alma mater where he earned his M.S. in Conservation Biology by studying Cisco in Lake Michigan.
Additional Resources:
2007 Inland Consent Decree
LTBB Natural Resources Department
Great Lakes COASTAL Resiliency Study- March 22, 2023
Due to climate change, the water levels, ice conditions, and storms experienced in the Great Lakes are all changing. David Bucaro, Chief of Planning at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District will provide an overview of the newly initiated Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study that seeks to maintain strong coastal economies, protect and restore coastal ecosystems, and develop more sustainable, resilient coastal communities prepared to adapt to future climate change.
Mr. Bucaro is responsible for coordinating and executing implementation of the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, Framework for Resilient GLRI Investments and other efforts aimed at improving the resilience of the Great Lakes coast to future climate change. He develops and monitors project schedules, budgets and milestones throughout their life cycle in coordination with functional elements of the District, stakeholders and partners. He coordinates project activities with customers and other outside interests, including project sponsors, state, local, community officials, elected officials, other Federal agencies, news media, and members of the public. Mr. Bucaro received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology and a M.S. degree in Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Chicago District in 2000, he worked as a research assistant for USACE’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign, Illinois. He is a registered Professional Engineer, certified Project Management Professional and a USACE Water Resources Certified Planner.
Additional resources:
Engineering with Nature Program
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Policies and Authorities
Mr. Bucaro is responsible for coordinating and executing implementation of the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, Framework for Resilient GLRI Investments and other efforts aimed at improving the resilience of the Great Lakes coast to future climate change. He develops and monitors project schedules, budgets and milestones throughout their life cycle in coordination with functional elements of the District, stakeholders and partners. He coordinates project activities with customers and other outside interests, including project sponsors, state, local, community officials, elected officials, other Federal agencies, news media, and members of the public. Mr. Bucaro received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology and a M.S. degree in Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Chicago District in 2000, he worked as a research assistant for USACE’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign, Illinois. He is a registered Professional Engineer, certified Project Management Professional and a USACE Water Resources Certified Planner.
Additional resources:
Engineering with Nature Program
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Policies and Authorities
Go with the Flow- April 5, 2023
Rivers and streams crisscross the landscape, providing thousands of miles of essential habitat for fish and other aquatic life, until dams, roads, and other obstacles impede access to critical habitat for refuge, spawning, and forage. Join Dr. Daniel Zielinski, Principle Engineer/Scientist with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, to discuss ongoing efforts to restore connectivity for stream health, biodiversity, and water quality protection, including FishPass on the Boardman River.
r. Daniel Zielinski is a Principal Engineer / Scientist with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Dan received his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with emphasis in water resources. He has authored numerous publications examining behavioral responses of fish to acoustic and hydrodynamic stimuli and the integration of this data into numerical models. He is broadly interested in integrating engineering and biological principles to better understand how the aquatic environment influences physical and behavioral responses in fish, and has built a research approach focused on exploiting computational resources and experimental technology to enhance fish passage and invasive species control. He is currently stationed in Traverse City, MI, where he works closely with FishPass project partners to oversee construction of FishPass, develop research and assessment plans supporting FishPass objectives, and communicating with stakeholders.
Additional resources:
Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) website
r. Daniel Zielinski is a Principal Engineer / Scientist with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Dan received his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with emphasis in water resources. He has authored numerous publications examining behavioral responses of fish to acoustic and hydrodynamic stimuli and the integration of this data into numerical models. He is broadly interested in integrating engineering and biological principles to better understand how the aquatic environment influences physical and behavioral responses in fish, and has built a research approach focused on exploiting computational resources and experimental technology to enhance fish passage and invasive species control. He is currently stationed in Traverse City, MI, where he works closely with FishPass project partners to oversee construction of FishPass, develop research and assessment plans supporting FishPass objectives, and communicating with stakeholders.
Additional resources:
Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) website
A Model for Evaluating Septic Pollution- April 19, 2023
With no statewide sanitary code and more than 10,000 inland lakes, how do we protect local waterways from leaking or failing septic systems? Lauren Dey, Watershed Programs Director, and Jennifer McKay, Policy Director, will share the results of a 2022 septic study conducted on Lake Charlevoix, provide a policy update on the Watershed Council's work at the state and local level, and share lessons learned about monitoring surface water and groundwater for septic pollution.
Lauren Dey joined the Watershed Council in May of 2021 and is responsible for developing Watershed Management Plans (WMPs), running watershed advisory committees, and ensuring that all education, restoration, and monitoring efforts align with WMPs. She grew up in Harbor Springs and developed a deep appreciation of everything Northern Michigan has to offer. She attended Lake Superior State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology. Lauren spent six years before joining the Watershed Council working for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in the water quality program.
Jennifer McKay joined the Watershed Council in 2005 and is responsible for state and federal policy and advocacy to improve protection of our water resources. She serves on the Great Lakes Commission and the Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority. She also serves on many local boards and committees including the Emmet County Local Emergency Planning Committee and as Vice Chair for the Michigan Environmental Council Board of Directors. She graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science.
Additional resources
Lauren Dey joined the Watershed Council in May of 2021 and is responsible for developing Watershed Management Plans (WMPs), running watershed advisory committees, and ensuring that all education, restoration, and monitoring efforts align with WMPs. She grew up in Harbor Springs and developed a deep appreciation of everything Northern Michigan has to offer. She attended Lake Superior State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology. Lauren spent six years before joining the Watershed Council working for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in the water quality program.
Jennifer McKay joined the Watershed Council in 2005 and is responsible for state and federal policy and advocacy to improve protection of our water resources. She serves on the Great Lakes Commission and the Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority. She also serves on many local boards and committees including the Emmet County Local Emergency Planning Committee and as Vice Chair for the Michigan Environmental Council Board of Directors. She graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science.
Additional resources
