The Freshwater Roundtable will host its 18th Annual Freshwater Summit Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College.
“We are thrilled to host this event that provides our community with the latest research and information regarding the health of our Great Lakes,” said Christine Crissman, executive director of The Watershed Center. “We have another great lineup of professional speakers and look forward to discussing current challenges and opportunities facing local and regional freshwater efforts.”
The event begins with keynote speaker and author Stephanie Mills who will discuss bioregionalism and how to start and stay with the nature of place. Full discussion topics include sea lamprey control, the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative, relationship between plankton and whitefish, and local projects led by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Lightning talks on local initiatives include using eDNA to track invasive species, the removal of Boyne Falls Dam, a lake level update, developing a scorecard to determine the health of the Boardman-Ottaway River, and FishPass and Michigan’s Blue Tech Innovation Hub.
The 18th Annual Freshwater Summit is sponsored by the Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc., Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, and FishPass, a project sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and City of Traverse City.
“We are honored to offer our continued support of the Freshwater Summit,” said Dennis McCauley, president of the Great Lakes Environmental Center and one of the sponsors of the event. “The Freshwater Summit is a highly valued venue that brings environmental professionals, citizens, and businesses up to date on matters that mean the most for the understanding and protection of the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.”
“FishPass and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission are honored to be a part of the greater Traverse City community,” said Leah Bagdon McCallum, community engagement officer with FishPass. “The Freshwater Summit showcases the meaningful collaboration in the region, and we look forward to sharing and learning with our fellow attendees.”
“The Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council is excited to be a sponsor of this year’s Freshwater Summit,” said Rachel Ratliff, board secretary with NMEAC. “This event is a fantastic opportunity for community members, businesses, and researchers to tune in with one another as stewards of the Great Lakes.”
The Freshwater Summit is a product of the Freshwater Roundtable and is organized by The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc., Inland Seas Education Association, and Conservation Resource Alliance.
Cost is of the event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is $40/person or $20/student and includes lunch.
A full agenda and registration information is available online at www.gtbay.org/freshwater-summit/.
