The Great Lakes Calendar features events from around the region that may be of interest to Great Lakes stakeholders, with a focus on professional conferences and events relevant to research, science, policy, and education. If you have an event you would like to publicize, please submit it below!
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.
Save the date: The Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day events will take place March 6-8, 2017, at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. Events featured dialogue on Great Lakes priorities by regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. Meeting information will be posted later this fall at www.glc.org/meetings/greatlakesday.
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.
Manufacturing custom soil blends from dredged sand in private-public partnerships has been demonstrated in St. Paul Minnesota where the MN Department of Transportation requires specified drainage and growth characteristics for roadside topsoil. The technology is transferable to other regions if the feedstock materials, manufacturers, and customers can be identified and matched in a local market. Successful soil markets can extend the life of Corps CDFs, create economic opportunity, and improve watershed hydrology and water quality with improved stormwater management.
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.
“Water Loss,” “Non-Revenue Water,” or “Leaks," no matter what we call it, our water infrastructure systems are not performing to their full potential. As communities face big decisions about investing scarce funds in water infrastructure, improving efficiency is critical. Learn from the experiences of Asheville, North Carolina and the State of Wisconsin about how to successfully identify and reduce water loss to save money and increase system resilience. Join us for the second in a series of webinars looking at equitable and sustainable solutions for community water infrastructure risks in the Great Lakes and beyond.
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.
Take a virtual tour of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with Chris May, Restoration Ecologist, as he tells the story of some of our most special places and the techniques used to restore and protect them.
From public fishing docks to bustling industrial piers, waterfront infrastructure sustains economic and recreational activity in waterfront communities around the country. The 2018 National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium will bring together representatives from businesses, non-profits, universities, all levels of government, and more to share resources and best practices to help waterfront communities thrive.
The 2018 Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference is convened by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to discuss the program's work and accomplishments, to connect with a wide variety of partners, and to continue making progress.