The IWR partners with various groups to organize conferences and events that address key issues within the state and region. Annual conferences focus on topics pertaining to the Great Lakes, Natural Shorelines, Source Water Assessment and Protection, and key water resource issues. Please browse IWR conferences and events below.
The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presentations may be downloaded below.
This 30th annual Great Lakes conference is offered each year during ANR Week to focus on the current and emerging issues, research, and other information related to the Great Lakes and its watershed. This year’s conference will feature presentations on legislative developments with ballast water and invasive species, fish diseases and their impacts on the Great Lakes, reclaiming Detroit’s industrial waterfront, forecasting harmful algal blooms (HABs), a sneak preview of a new PBS production on HABs, and more. It is sponsored by Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Institute of Water Research, Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Extension and the Water Resources Division, Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) with support from the USGS Water Resources Research Program. Committee members who helped develop the conference include Lois Wolfson, Heather Triezenberg, Bill Taylor, Michelle Selzer, Scott Peacor, and Cheryl Murphy.
Presented by Heather Triezenberg, Michigan Sea Grant Extension
Legislative Developments with Ballast Water and Invasive Species
Presented by Heather Sarah LeSage, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
Towards Knowing the Unknowns: Great Lakes Fish Health in the 21st Century
Presented by Thomas Loch, Michigan State University – Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory; Depts of Fisheries & Wildlife & Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation
The Erie Situation: Documentary in Progress
Presented by Edward Verhamme (LimnoTech) and David Ruck (Great Lakes Outreach Media)
Understanding Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie: Evidence from Genomes to Satellites
Presented by Tom Johengen, Michigan Sea Grant and Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, University of Michigan
Waterfront Porch: Reclaiming Detroit’s Industrial Waterfront as a Gathering Place For All
Presented by John Hartig, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor
The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery
Presented by Dan O’Keefe, Brandon Schroeder, and Shari Dann, Michigan Sea Grant
The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presentations may be downloaded below. The conference is co-sponsored by Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Institute of Water Research; Michigan Sea Grant Extension, and the Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Partial funding has been provided through the Water Resources Research Program, US Geological Survey and Michigan Sea Grant Extension. Steve Allen and Nat Spurr, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi; Dr. Jennifer Kanine, Natural Resources Dept., Pokagon Band, Potawatomi Elliot Nelson, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Seth Herbst, Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Dr. Howard Tanner, Retired Andrea Stay, Environmental Stewardship Division, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Christina Pastoria, Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Natural Resources The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presentations may be downloaded below. The conference is co-sponsored by Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Institute of Water Research; Michigan Sea Grant Extension, and the Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Partial funding has been provided through the Water Resources Research Program, US Geological Survey and Michigan Sea Grant Extension. Alan Arbogast, Michigan State University Dept. of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences Laura Symonds, Environmental Canine Services LLC Jia Wang, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Sarah LeSage, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Guy Meadows, Michigan Tech University Great Lakes Research Center Devin Gill, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presentations may be downloaded below. The conference is co-sponsored by Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Institute of Water Research; Michigan Sea Grant Extension, and the Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Partial funding has been provided through the Water Resources Research Program, US Geological Survey and Michigan Sea Grant Extension. Joan Rose, Michigan State University Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Jon Allan, Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality Office of the Great Lakes Laura Johnson, National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University Justin Booth and Robert Goodwin, Michigan State University Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services Pat Lindemann, Ingham County Drain Commission Ron Kinnunen, Michigan Sea Grant Extension; Robert Pratt, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Mary Stewart Adams, Headlands International Dark Skies Park Lisa Peterson, Michigan State University Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Presentations may be downloaded below. Conference Sponsors: MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Institute of Water Research; Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Office of the Great Lakes – Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Resources Research Program – US Geological Survey Jon Allan, Office of the Great Lakes David Bunnell, USGS Great Lakes Science Center Jim Boase, US Fish and Wildlife Service Craig Stow, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Jim Diana, Michigan Sea Grant and University of Michigan Molly Rippke, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Stephen Brede, Great Lakes Canoe Kris Spaulding, Brewery Vivant The Great Lakes Conference is held annually in the spring during MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Celebrating its 25th year in 2015, this year’s Great Lakes Conference addressed current key topic issues, reflected on the status of the Great Lakes over the last 25 years, and highlighted some of the latest research and management efforts being developed for the Great Lakes and surrounding watersheds. Download the agenda here. Presentations may be downloaded using the links below. Conference Sponsors: MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Institute of Water Research; Michigan Sea Grant Extension, The Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Water Resources Research Program, US Geological Survey John Hartig, US Fish and Wildlife Service Jamie Clover-Adams, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Chris Winslow, Ohio State University Phyllis Higman, Michigan Natural Features Inventory Randall M. Claramunt, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Tammy Newcomb, Michigan Department of Natural Resources David Mifsud, Herpetological Resource and Management The Great Lakes continually face complex issues including Great Lakes water levels, invasive species, changing fisheries, hypoxia and nutrient inputs. These issues are being addressed by both scientists and policy makers throughout the Great Lakes Basin. This conference addressed some of these key topic areas and highlighted some of the latest research, management, and educational efforts to assess these Great Lakes issues. Download the agenda here. Presentations may be downloaded using the links below. Conference Sponsors: MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; MSU Institute of Water Research, Michigan Sea Grant Extension; and Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Keith Creagh, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Jim Lazorchak, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mark Ebener, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Kurt Kowalski, U.S. Geological Survey Mary Evans, U.S. Geological Survey Jen Daley, University of Michigan Dan O’Keefe, Michigan Sea Grant
Mark your calendar for the upcoming Shoreline and Shallows Conference set for Thursday, March 7, 2019 in East Lansing. This year’s conference will feature presentations on impacts of moderate and high-energy waves on lake shorelines and lake level impacts. Visit the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership website for more information.
Shoreline development along inland lakes often results in the wild native shore being replaced with seawalls, rock and lawns down to the water’s edge. As a result, many lakes have little or none of their original vegetation. The reintroduction of natural shorelines through the use of green landscaping technologies and bioengineered erosion control help promote a variety of ecological services such as slowing pollutant runoff, stabilizing eroding soils, deterring geese, improving fish and wildlife habitat, and revitalizing the ecological function of the lakeshore.
Each year the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership (MNSP) and its partners, including the IWR, focus on emerging and current topics related to natural shorelines including the selection of native plants, influence of changing climatic conditions, policy issues and local ordinances, new bio-engineering, case studies, design considerations, high energy sites, economics of natural shoreline projects and other key issues.
This event is a collaborative effort hosted by the Michigan Inland Lakes Partnership and made possible by several organizations including the Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, Inc., Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan State University Institute of Water Research. The convention is held every other year.
This seminar, Assuring Sustainable Food Production with Information Technologies, was held during the 100th Annual Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. The ultimate goal of the seminar was to start an ongoing dialogue about evolving and cutting edge technologies and approaches that will define agriculture, food production, and conservation over the 21st century.
Speakers included:
Watch presentations from the workshop below.
Information coming soon.
