First Annual Conference for Michigan’s
Clean Water Corps
Volunteer
Monitoring Program
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center
Higgins Lake,
Michigan
Conference agenda and registration form available online at http://www.micorps.net/conference.html
For background on Michigan’s Clean Water Corps program, visit http://www.micorps.net/about.html. The Great Lakes Commission is administering the MiCorps program under contract with the Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Conference Overview
This first annual conference will present Michigan’s Clean Water
Corps - MiCorps - a new program created by Governor Jennifer
Granholm to engage Michigan’s volunteer monitoring community to support the
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in collecting and sharing data on the
quality of Michigan’s lakes and streams. The one-day conference will review the
MiCorps program structure and accomplishments; provide training on MiCorps
monitoring protocols and data management procedures; educate volunteer monitors
on how they can use their data to support local water quality protection
efforts; highlight funding options for volunteer monitoring programs and tips
for recruiting volunteer monitors; and provide volunteers with opportunities to
interact with MiCorps and DEQ staff and leaders in Michigan’s volunteer
monitoring community. DEQ staff will review trends in water quality in
Michigan’s lakes and rivers, and how the state is using volunteer
data.
Who Should Attend
The conference is intended for volunteer monitoring program leaders, citizen volunteers, water resource professionals, and others interested in the health and protection of Michigan’s rivers, lakes and streams. Conference sessions will showcase successful volunteer monitoring programs and funding options for supporting local efforts. DEQ staff will recognize exemplary efforts by volunteers in MiCorps programs and solicit input on how to strengthen and better engage volunteer monitoring groups in this important new initiative.
Call for Presentations and Displays
Volunteer monitoring programs are invited to showcase how they are supporting local river or lake management efforts; effective strategies for recruiting and sustaining volunteer monitors; and other accomplishments in the volunteer monitoring field. Selected presentations will be made in conference breakout sessions and others will be invited to present posters. Space is also available for displays from local volunteer monitoring organizations. Presentation abstracts and questions should be directed to Matt Doss, MiCorps staff, Great Lakes Commission, 734-971-9135, mdoss@glc.org.
Special Training for Volunteer Monitors
The day prior to the MiCorps Conference Jo Latimore and Joan
Martin with the Huron River Watershed Council will offer training on stream
macroinvertebrate ecology and identification, and managing and communicating
volunteer monitoring data. The training session will be held from 1:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m. at the MacMullan Conference center. The training is free of charge and
is open to all interested parties. Please use the conference registration form
to register in advance for the training. For additional information on the
training session, contact Joan Martin,
jmartin@hrwc.org, or Jo Latimore, jlatimore@hrwc.org, or call 734-769-5971.
The conference registration fee is $25 and includes lunch on Saturday, breaks and all conference materials. Dormitory-style lodging is available at the MacMullan Center at a rate of $50 for a double room and $72 for a single room (both include breakfast on Saturday). Please use the conference registration form to register for the conference, lodging, and optional events. The registration deadline is Friday, October 21!
Contacts for More Information
For more information on the MiCorps program or the Oct. 29 conference, contact Matt Doss, MiCorps staff, Great Lakes Commission, 734-971-9135, mdoss@glc.org. Background on and current activities within the MiCorps program is available online at http://www.micorps.net.