Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Sea Grant have a long history of working on and around Lake Huron with coastal communities, anglers, sport divers and maritime historians, shoreline property owners, and educators and their students.

For those in and around the Lake Huron watershed, next week offers a unique opportunity to learn more about Lake Huron at the State of Lake Huron meeting held at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena, Mich. It will also be presented via live webinar for those unable to attend in person.

This two-day meeting (Nov. 4-5) will bring together scientists, resource managers and interested members of the public from the United States and Canada to discuss the current science and status of Lake Huron, including the St. Marys River. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for participants to engage in discussions that will help to define the binational science and monitoring priorities for Lake Huron’s 2017 year of cooperative study.

Webinar participants can expect to learn about a wide range of Lake Huron issues from university, federal and state research scientists, consultants, and non-governmental organizations.

Presentations will address the following topic areas:

• Chemical Contaminants (Air, Water, Sediments, Biota)
• Nearshore Water Quality and Land-Lake Interactions (Land Use and Nutrient Loadings, Beach Health, Harmful Algal Blooms, Cladophora)
• Aquatic Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change (Nutrients and Major Ions, Benthic and Pelagic Food Web Changes, Invasive Species)
• Habitats and Species: Status, Trends, and Stressors (Coastal Wetlands, Coastal Terrestrial Habitat, Tributaries and Hydrological Connectivity, Population Status and Trends)
• Fish and Fisheries Management (Fish Species Diversity, Prey Fish Dynamics, Nearshore Fish Status and Trends, Native Fish Conservation and Management Needs)
• The Cooperative Science & Monitoring Initiative

To participate in the webinar there is no need to register in advance. On the day of the meeting, webinar participants will need to use the information below to join webinar.  The webinar will run from 8:30 – 5:00 EST on both Nov. 4 and 5.

State of Lake Huron 2015 Online Webinar: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/378531805
You can also call in using your phone.  United States: +1 (872) 240-3212, Access Code: 378-531-805

Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research and outreach. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 33 university-based programs.