Great Lakes Calendar

The experience of nature is a critical issue in the lives of our children. Explore the "extinction of experience" - a widespread concern that many children have diminished contact with nature in their daily routines and what this might mean for childhood development. At this event, there will be a screening of the award-winning film, NaturePlay: Taking Childhood Back. Following the film, the presenters will highlight some local research and programming that is studying and supporting nature play for children in our region. The event is free and open to the public.

A Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Training Course that is being coordinated by Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Extension, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission will be held December 5-7, 2017 at Ojibwa Casino Resort in Baraga, Michigan. All fish processors are required to take this training if they are not currently certified.

The 28th Annual No-Spills Conference is a premier environmental and emergency response event focused on preventing hazardous material spills into the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Our conference encourages and facilitates interaction between agencies, industry professionals, subject matter experts and the public. Our presentations foster communication, promote the analysis of environmental issues, and offer solutions for prevention and of mitigation of hazardous material spills. This year's theme: Protecting the Great Lakes: Ownership, Resurgence and Renewal.

The Michigan State University Extension Introduction to Lakes six-week course starts January 23, is offered in a convenient self-paced online format, and is designed for anyone interested in lakes. Topics of the course include lake ecology, watersheds, aquatic plants, shorelines, Michigan water law, and citizen involvement.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association's 23rd annual Wetland Science Conference will be held February 20-22, 2018, at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The two-day conference includes a keynote address, organized symposia, topical oral sessions, a poster session, working groups, a banquet, and field trips to area wetlands.

The ICWMM brings together professionals from around the world to exchange ideas on current practices and emerging technologies in water management. Emphasis is on state-of-the-art computer modeling for resolving water quantity and quality problems in stormwater, wastewater, watershed and water distribution systems.

The Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society (McNALMS) is holding a Lunch and Learn Conference Event on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, MI from 11am-2:30pm. The topic will be Managing Fish Habitat in a Changing Climate, and will feature two speakers: Kevin Wehrly from the Institute for Fisheries Research, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Peter Jacobson from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Registration includes lunch.

The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) is an opportunity to energize international coordination efforts within the marine debris community. It will build upon the partnerships and successes of the Honolulu Strategy which was developed at the last conference in 2011.

Got tech & innovative ideas that could protect our water? Sign up now for the 2018 AquaHacking Challenge Launch event! Each year, over several months, the AquaHacking Challenge engages with rising gen hackers, engineers and marketers from various universities to create multi-disciplinary teams and develop clean-tech engineering, web and mobile solutions to water issues affecting the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin. On March 21, this year's challenges, experts, and more will be revealed.

The need for supplemental irrigation is nearly universal, but how do we ensure we are making the most efficient use of water possible? This webinar will overview recent research evaluating irrigation water use efficiency, and highlight case studies on irrigation management throughout the region.

The Lake Erie Foundation is hosting "Lake Erie’s challenges and opportunities" at its annual conference April 13th in Perrysburg, Ohio. Open to the public, the event will include a slate of experts. Newly appointed University of Toledo Lake Erie Center Director, Tom Bridgeman will share monitoring information along with Tim Davis, BGSU on developing impaired goals and the lawyer on the impairment issue, Madeline Fleisher, manure management in Michigan with Pam Taylor and others will provide current Lake Erie topics etc. Additionally, Kent Bekker from the Toledo Zoo will discuss the sturgeon reintroduction in the Maumee project.

When folks gather at the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention, they are paying attention to the many factors that affect our precious waters. In this setting, professionals and citizens have the time and space to discuss successes, as well as learn from each other. There is new research to consider during the poster session as well as over 50 concurrent sessions and hands-on workshops that will encourage you to heed the call.

Join the North Central Climate Collaborative (NC3)'s upcoming webinar featuring South Dakota State University Extension Soil Field Specialist Anthony Bly. Bly will discuss the climate's impact on soil properties and what this means for producers, educators, and advisors.

The Council of the Great Lakes Region's fourth Great Lakes Economic Forum brings together hundreds of leading industry executives, senior government officials and policy experts, academics, and change agents from the nonprofit sector who have a stake in growing the economy of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region, safely and sustainably, and improving the well-being of the region’s citizens.

Take a tour of the Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve with The Nature Conservancy! The Nature Conservancy will share the unique history of the preserve, the habitats and species that live here and how they’re working to restore and protect Michigan’s forests and dunes. The tour also includes an introduction to geocaching! This event is free and family friendly. Spots are limited. RSVP required by May 1.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for the public to learn about and discuss developments in the Great Lakes fishery. Commissioners and the U.S. and Canadian Committees of Advisors will also hold meetings at this event.

The Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame awards are sponsored by the Muskegon Environmental Research & Education Society. The award ceremony takes place May 9, 2018. Nominations may be submitted by the public.