Introduction

Michigan's 14 Areas of Concern

SPAC Members and Alternate Members

Michigan Areas of Concern NEWS newsletter

2008 Status Report and Legislative Agenda (PDF)

Guidance for Delisting Michigan's Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF)

Draft Assessment
of Fish and Wildlife Beneficial Use Impairments

RAP Documents for Michigan's Areas of Concern

An Action Agenda for Restoring Michigan's Great Lakes Toxic Hot Spots (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions about Michigan's Areas of Concern (PDF)

Fact sheet on the Great Lakes Legacy Act (PDF)

Workshop Summaries:

Virtual Library of Remedial Action Plan Resources

U.S. AOC Delisting Principles Guidelines

International Joint Commission Status of Restoration Activities in Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Senate Great Lakes Conservation Task Force: 2002 Final Report

Overview of Assistance Needed for Michigan's Areas of Concern (PDF)

An Overview of U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF)

RAP Recommendations and Contacts for Michigan's AOCs (PDF)

Selected Resources on Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes (PDF)

SPAC Mission and long-term strategic plan (PDF)

Areas of Concern (AOCs)

Funding and Grant Sources

Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs)

Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)

Comments or questions about the Michigan Statewide Public Advisory Council? Contact Matt Doss at mdoss@glc.org

Presentations

Morning

Ecosystem Restoration: Guiding Principles and Practical Actions for Watershed Stewards (PDF)

The opening presentation provided an introduction to the field of ecosystem restoration and outlined practical actions that local groups can take at the watershed level.

Keith Bowers, Society for Ecological Restoration; Biohabitats, Inc. kbowers@biohabitats.com
Society for Ecological Restoration International

Related document:

SER Primer on Ecological Restoration

Restoration Planning for Fish and Wildlife in Michigan’s Areas of Concern: A Preliminary Assessment and Guidance for Action (PDF)

This session illustrated the linkage between ecosystem restoration and Area of Concern delisting; presented the findings of GLNPO’s assessment of fish and wildlife restoration planning in Michigan’s Areas of Concern; highlighted common gaps and needs; and outlined a recommended pathway for Remedial Action Plan groups to follow in developing fish and wildlife restoration plans and targets.

Karen Rodriguez; Jamie Schardt, U.S. EPA-Great Lakes National Program Office: rodriguez.karen@epa.gov or schardt.james@epa.gov

Related document:

Pathway for Delisting Three Beneficial Use Impairments in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF)

Fish and wildlife and benthos Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) have been particularly vexing with regard to delisting. In 2003, the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) began to develop a systematic approach to delisting. GLNPO staff assessed the progress of all U.S. and binational AOCs with regard to delisting these three BUIs. This paper is intended to establish a restoration pathway to delisting and assess Michigan AOC progress along that pathway. Appendices A and B contain sources of additional information about ecological restoration and restoration resources.

Programs and Methodologies for Establishing Restoration Targets for Fisheries and Benthic Communities:

Building on River Assessments for Michigan's Rivers (PDF) Abstract
Liz Hay-Chmielewski, MDNR Fisheries Division
hayL@michigan.gov

Managing and Monitoring Wildlife Habitat and Populations in Michigan (PDF)
Lori Sargent and Michael Bailey, MDNR Wildlife Division
sargentl2@michigan.gov or baileyme@michigan.gov

Assessing and Setting Targets for Benthic Communities (PDF)
Reuben Goforth, Michigan Natural Features Inventory
goforthr@msu.edu

Using Indices of Biological Integrity to Assess River, Wetland and Habitat Health (PDF) Abstract

J. David Allan, University of Michigan

dallan@umich.edu

Biological Assessment of Non-Wadeable Rivers in Michigan Using Macroinvertebrates (PDF)

Kelly Wessell, Michigan State University

wessellk@msu.edu

Indices of Biotic Integrity to Assess Wetland Health (PDF) Abstract

Don Uzarski, Grand Valley State University

uzarskid@gvsu.edu

Afternoon

Practical Steps in Restoration Planning and Target Setting for Fish and Wildlife:

This session discussed critical components in the planning/target setting process for fish and wildlife restoration. For each component, Keith Bowers reviewed how the activity fits into the ecosystem restoration process, technical requirements, costs, and other considerations. Case studies were then presented of how each component has been applied to the ecosystem restoration process in Michigan’s Areas of Concern.

Vision, Goals and Objectives

Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the Canadian Side of the Detroit River (PDF) Abstract
Matthew Child, Essex Region Conservation Authority

mchild@erca.org

Inventories and Assessments

Habitat Assessments for Muskegon Lake and White Lake (PDF)
Mark Luttenton, Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State Univ.

luttentm@gvsu.edu

Project Design
Habitat Restoration in the Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern (PDF) Abstract
Lisa Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

lisa_williams@fws.gov

Implementation
Implementing Marsh and Prairie Restoration in Sterling State Park in the River Raisin Area of Concern (PDF)
Ray Fahlsing, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

fahlsinr@michigan.gov

Monitoring and Indicators
Marsh Monitoring in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (PDF)
Steve Timmermans, Bird Studies Canada

stimmermans@bsc-eoc.org