GLIN==> Great Lakes Invasive Species Workshops

We are pleased to invite you to participate in two workshops focusing on aquatic invasive species issues in the Great Lakes region. The workshops will be held June 7-8, 2004 in Muskegon, Michigan, coinciding with the state of Michigan’s AIS Awareness Week. Below you will find preliminary information about each event. Detailed agendas and registration information will be sent with subsequent announcements about the workshops by the end of April. If you need further information such as draft agendas to assist with travel requests, please contact us.

This is the second workshop for the project A Rapid Response Plan for Great Lakes Aquatic Invasions, funded by the U.S. EPA-Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO). As part of the project, a model rapid response plan for Great Lakes aquatic invasions is being developed. The primary objective of this workshop is to apply the model rapid response plan to a species-specific case study on hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). Although this aquatic invasive species has not yet been detected in the Great Lakes system, it is considered a high risk species with the potential to invade and cause high levels of ecological damage, as evidenced by invasions in other regions. The case study will examine the components of the model rapid response plan to determine where the plan is effective in addressing the potential invasion of hydrilla and areas in need of refinement and/or further development. A secondary objective of the workshop is to explore how rapid response planning should be modified for different jurisdictional scenarios in the event of hydrilla infestations.

For additional information please contact Kathe Glassner-Shwayder (shwayder@glc.org) or Kevin Walters (kwalters@glc.org). Both can be reached by phone at 734-971-9135.

Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Early Detection and Monitoring: A Pilot Project for the Lake Michigan Basin

The purpose of this workshop is to seek input for and review of draft guidelines and recommendations for a proposed ANS early detection and monitoring network in the Lake Michigan basin. The draft document is based on results and analysis of a survey that was sent out in late 2003 to organizations who conduct monitoring in the Lake Michigan basin. The purpose of the survey was to assess the interest and capacity of Lake Michigan monitoring programs to detect and monitor invasive species in the basin. A final draft of the guidelines and recommendations document will incorporate feedback from this workshop. Additional topics for the workshop will include active ANS monitoring perspectives, passive ANS monitoring perspectives, the role of volunteer monitoring, communication and reporting protocols, and monitoring gaps. The project ANS Early Detection and Monitoring: A Pilot Project for the Lake Michigan Basin, is also funded by U.S. EPA-GLNPO.

For additional information please contact Kevin Walters (kwalters@glc.org) or John Hummer (jhummer@glc.org). Both can be reached by phone at 734-971-9135.

Additional Lake Michigan Monitoring Meetings

In conjunction with the two workshops described above, two other meetings will be held the same week at the same location. The spring meeting of the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council (LMMCC) will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. A Lake Michigan Tributary Monitoring workshop (a workgroup meeting of the LMMCC) will take place on Thursday, June 10, 2004. For further information on these events, contact John Hummer (jhummer@glc.org) or Ric Lawson (rlawson@glc.org). Both can be reached by phone at 734-971-9135.

Logistics/Hotel Accomodations

The workshops and meetings will be held at Grand Valley State University’s Lake Michigan Center (http://www.gvsu.edu/wri/) in Muskegon, Michigan. Hotel accommodations are available across the street at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor (http://www.holidayinnmuskegon.com/). Rooms are available to participants at the discounted rate of $79 (plus tax) per night. To ensure this special pricing and room availability you should make your reservations by May 17, 2004. Reservations can be made by contacting the Holiday Inn at 231-720-7100. Be sure to ask for the Great Lakes Commission rate.