The Inland Seas Education Association will hold a public meeting focused on the best practices for protecting the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed on Tuesday at the Great Lakes Campus of Northwestern Michigan College.

Grand Traverse Bay is one of the largest watershed in Michigan, and boasts of having the highest water quality of the larger Lake Michigan bays. As members of the Grand Traverse region, community members have a vested interest in keeping the water in the watershed clean and clear, ISEA members believe. To preserve and protect the water quality and economic sustainability of Grand Traverse Bay, community members need to better understand the bay, according to the ISEA.

Understanding Your Bay, scheduled from 2-5 p.m. will provide an opportunity to discuss watershed issues with members of garden clubs, lake associations, civic clubs, local governments, businesses and other groups with a vested interest in the health of the watershed.

Guest speakers from around the region will present the latest information and updates on project their organizations are working on in 2008. Topics will include innovative beach and wetland restoration efforts; public awareness of Type E botulism and the watershed center’s health beaches program.

There is no cost to participate in the event. However, registration is requested no later than Friday by calling the ISEA office in Suttons Bay at 271-3077.

ISEA has sponsored environmental awareness meetings for the community on a number of topics, including global temperature change.