Advances in Large Lakes Science, Technologies & Innovations

Invasive species are a leading threat to native species and biodiversity, are an important driver of global ecological and evolutionary change, restructure food webs, and have caused significant economic damage to ecosystems. This session welcomes presentations reflecting a broad array of aquatic invasive species research in large lakes of the world, including ecological, social, economic, education and evaluation research. We encourage presenters to connect their research to recent international, national, regional or local management-driven research prioritization lists and gap analyses such as the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force’s National Priorities List. Chaired by: Rochelle Sturtevant, Michigan Sea Grant

Physical & Biogeochemistry

This session will highlight ecological modeling and empirical studies of biological-physical interactions and biogeochemistry in the pelagic and benthic zones of large lakes as well as streams and rivers in their watersheds. We encourage contributions that address important ecological functions as well organismal responses to abiotic factors using process-based numerical models, data-driven models, ecological experiments, physiological or molecular tools, and in situ observations. Chaired by: Reza Valipour, Environment and Climate Change Canada Mark D Rowe, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Casey M Godwin, CIGLR, University of MichiganJosef D Ackerman, University of Guelph

Science & Management

The USA and Canada both have ambitious targets for 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. The Great Lakes region is blessed with extraordinary potential to take a leadership role in enabling these targets to be achieved, while building infrastructure, creating jobs, boosting the economy and maintaining environmental stewardship. This session is intended to showcase a variety of Great Lakes region opportunities including wind energy, solar energy, hydropower and energy storage. In Ontario plus the US Great Lakes states, approximate current wind power capacity is 28 GW, solar power capacity 16 GW, hydropower capacity 10 GW, and energy storage capacity 4 GW that is dominated by pumped hydro. All of these have opportunities to grow dramatically by 2035. One unique growth example is a Lake Ontario to Erie pumped hydro energy storage that could add up to 400 GW capacity for diurnal storage and generation, which would make it the largest energy storage system in the World and a major enabler for the stated US and Canadian targets for 100% carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035. US-Canada collaboration and systematic engagement of all stakeholders will be critical to realize tremendous synergistic benefits for both nations, building on a strong portfolio of green energy systems in the Great Lakes region. Chaired by:Mithra Sankrithi, RIC Enterprises

Science & Management

The binational Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) under Annex 10 (Science Annex) of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement coordinates agency science and monitoring in support of management of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The process includes enhanced monitoring and science-based field activities which are conducted in one Great Lake per year and tied to the information needs identified by the Lake Partnerships. The 2022 Lake Huron CSMI investigations by federal agencies and partners addressed key knowledge gaps among five broad themes including chemical contaminant pollution, nutrient and bacterial pollution, habitat and species, invasive species and other stressors. Presenters will share preliminary results from the 2022 field year and knowledge gained during the CSMI effort. Chaired by:Paris D Collingsworth, Illinois - Indiana Sea Grant Annie Scofield, EPA Great Lakes National Program Office

Pollutants

This session invites presentations that provide an improved understanding of the loading, transport, and/or fate of PFAS compounds into and through municipal water and/or wastewater treatment plants for a variety of source water (river, lake, ground) and sewerage tributary area types (separate, combined, hybrid). Sessions that pertain to the analysis of PFAS samples derived from these systems and the selection of analyte focus and sampling frequency are also invited. Chaired by: Carol J Miller, Wayne State University Tracie R Baker, University of FloridaJohn W Norton, Great Lakes Water Authority

Microbial Communities & cHABs

The International Joint Commission (IJC) conducted a large-scale investigation of the extent of fecal pollution contaminating the transboundary waters of the Great Lakes in 1913. Today, over 100 years later, the IJC’s Health Professionals Advisory Board is building on this landmark study, and seeking to encourage a binational and multi-agency collaboration to conduct a large-scale Great Lakes Microbial Water Quality Assessment using modern molecular (e.g. PCR) and genomics (e.g. metabarcoding and metagenomics) technologies. Multi-stakeholder IJC workshops in 2022 identified there is much capacity in the Great Lakes basin to apply these technologies to advance fecal pollution source tracking, harmful algal bloom assessment, and ecosystem health assessment from a One Health perspective. This session invites presentations that can provide a demonstration of the value of applying molecular and genomics technologies for better understanding the human health risks associated with changing microbial water quality in the Great Lakes from aspects such as releases of sewage and storm water, septic wastes, livestock wastes, waterfowl fecal droppings, beach postings, harmful algal blooms, the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and changes to microbial communities at the base of food chains and important biogeochemical cycles. Chaired by: Tom Edge, McMaster UniversityJoan Rose, Michigan State University

Human Dimensions

Achieving full social-environmental-economic benefits from restoration and remediation efforts and investments in the Great Lakes requires deep community involvement. This is particularly important given the increasing number of challenges facing the Great Lakes including legacy contaminants, climate change, and economic inequality. Despite significant ongoing investments into addressing these challenges, the social and organizational dimensions of restoration and remediation remain largely overlooked. To address this gap, Great Lakes social scientists and researchers gathered in 2023 to discuss strategies for broadening the design and evaluation of existing Great Lakes restoration programs to more substantially incorporate community needs and benefits, climate change, and Indigenous knowledge. The result of this workshop is a set of six implementable SMARTIE (Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Relevant or Realistic, Timebound, Inclusive, Equitable) recommendations. This session will present the findings from the workshop and provide a forum for discussion among natural and social scientists on next steps to implement the recommendations. The session will also feature presentations from potential partner organizations who will discuss ongoing efforts that align with one specific SMARTIE recommendation, “Co-develop core social values for the Great Lakes region to augment physical, chemical, and biological integrity.” Chaired by: Meghan R Klasic, Center for Computational Toxicology and Ecology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)Mike Shriberg, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) & Michigan Sea Grant, University of MichiganSara Hughes, Cooperative Institute for Great Lake Research (CIGLR), RAND Corporation

Microbial Communities & cHABs

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) are infamous for their impacts on water quality and human and ecosystem health owing to the noxious secondary metabolites that they produce, including toxins and odor compounds. Research on known compounds and newly-identified bioactive compounds, including the genetic basis for metabolites’ synthesis and mode of actions, are essential to assess the risk of cHABs. Our aim with this symposium is to integrate novel research on cHAB secondary metabolites and their ecotoxicology and public health hazard identification using a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. Chaired by:Xuexiu Chang, University of Windsor, Kunming UniversityArthur Zastepa, Environment and Climate Change Canada Lin Li, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Collaborations

The diversity of coregonines (ciscoes, whitefish) have historically promoted resilience and ecosystem services by connecting diverse energy pathways. For example, coregonines can be key prey to top predators and support valuable fisheries. In North America, these services preceded European settlement, as coregonines have long been of great cultural and socio-economic importance to Indigenous Peoples. Over the past century, however, overfishing, habitat loss, and interactions with introduced species have led to large losses in coregonine diversity and population abundance, leading to substantial declines in subsistence, commercial, and recreational fisheries. In many areas, there are consumption advisors for coregonines given high contaminant levels. Mitigation of stressors has improved ecosystem conditions in some areas, for example, reducing heavy metal contamination and limiting harvest pressure. Moreover, specific restoration and conservation efforts aimed at coregonines are now underway, with varying levels of success. In this session, we invite talks that share ongoing efforts to acquire knowledge (through Indigenous and western approaches) about the stressors affecting coregonine populations, ecosystem contributions of coregonines, and reciprocal relationships between coregonines and people. We also welcome talks that increase our understanding of coregonine ecology and their adaptive capacity for coping with future stressors. We invite talks from a continuum of ecosystems, including those that have few anthropogenic disturbances, that continue to be managed for subsistence, recreational or commercial fishing, that focus on potential risks of consumption and vulnerability to disadvantaged communities, and that have imperiled populations for which active conservation or restoration programs are planned or underway. Chaired by: David B Bunnell, USGS-Great Lakes Science CenterErin S Dunlop, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryRyan Lauzon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First NationJason B Smith, Bay Mills Indian Community

Science & Management

Impacts of climate change on water resources are increasingly complex. Effective responses require an integrated and holistic approach to water governance which facilitates a systemic understanding of the interconnectedness of problems facing different communities beyond geographies, social contexts, and national borders. This is particularly challenging because it requires spanning political, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries. Ecosystem approaches are governance frameworks that have been successfully implemented to embrace complexity and address wicked problems often rooted within water governance practices. It is based on the understanding that positive health outcomes emerge from interrelationships within social-ecological systems. As a framework EA has a 50-year history of understanding ecosystems and managing relationships between humans and the environment in pursuit of co-benefits, improving both ecosystem and human health. This session focuses on water governance management that is predicated on holistic approaches where co-governance is required and is being implemented - with an emphasis on embracing complexity through a diversity of approaches. Presentations will focus on: Indigenous-led or co-governed natural resource management approaches that mobilize Indigenous knowledges and other ways of knowing; perspectives from negotiated cross-boundary governance; and case studies of co-production and co-management, and in education practices and knowledge mobilization efforts. The session will conclude with a panel discussion that facilitates conversations between presenters and audience members to share experiences; lessons, stories, and goals from co-production and co-innovation of ecosystem-based management; and recommendations of exemplars. Finally, the panel will explore creating an ecosystem approach community of practice and thought paper upon which future collaborations can be built. Chaired by: Navjot Dhaliwal, York University Fani Tsaroucha, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of WindsorAli Mokdad, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor

Science & Management

Conducting science in large lakes (>500km2 ) is an incredibly complex endeavour, made even more so by the fact that large lakes often span multiple nations, requiring international resource co-management. Science to support management thus frequently requires cooperation by researchers and organizations from multiple nations, and such cross-border collaboration is often a requirement for strong, usable science to be produced. In this session, The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR), The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), and the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) invite presentations on science conducted by multi-nation teams, particularly highlighting the benefits and challenges of developing, managing, and executing these projects. We will conclude the session with an interactive exercise to explore the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for multi-nation collaborative science, with the intent to produce a commentary for the Journal of Great Lakes Research. Chaired by:Jessica T Ives, Great Lakes Fishery CommissionTed J Lawrence, African Center for Aquatic Research and EducationAlfred O Achieng, University of Toronto Scarborough

Plenary

Ticket required

Ecosystem Types--Wetlands & Waterways

Wetlands in the Great Lakes basin have immense ecological and cultural importance. They support diverse flora and fauna that are sensitive to deterioration in water quality, changes in land use, and ecological degradation. Resilient, healthy wetlands with biodiverse communities provide essential functions that protect water quality, sequester carbon and connect people and the land. Despite their importance, it is estimated that over 50% of the coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes have already been lost. Human development and high lake levels present an ongoing threat to those wetlands that remain. In this session, we will platform recent research into the functions and values of wetlands in the Great Lakes basin, from coastal marsh to riverine and isolated inland wetlands within the broader watershed. We will also highlight advances in monitoring and measurement, including efforts to harmonize data collection methods, better predict restoration outcomes, and develop community-based monitoring programs that interweave different ways of knowing. In recognition of the conference theme, we particularly encourage abstract submissions with a One Health perspective and research focused on the restoration, protection and/or management of culturally and traditionally important flora and fauna. Chaired by: Rebecca C Rooney, University of WaterlooAndrea Kirkwood, Ontario Tech UniversityCourtney D Robichaud, Carleton UniversityTyler Hampton, University of Waterloo

Special Session

Recently retired, Dr. William W. Taylor joined Michigan State University in 1980 where he served as chair of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (1992-2008) and as University Distinguished Professor in Global Fisheries Systems (2009-2022). During his tenure, Dr. Taylor mentored more than 100 students, published more than 130 articles and eight books, and served as an advisor on countless boards and councils. His unique ability to forge partnerships, establish connections, and inspire novel solutions to wicked challenges has endeared him to many throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes and beyond. He has made outstanding contributions to global fishery science and governance and has inspired the next generation of leaders. This session will bring together those who have been influenced by Dr. Taylor to celebrate his enormous contributions in the areas of (1) teaching and mentorship; (2) service; (3) inland fishery management; and (4) international engagement. Chaired by:Andrew M Muir, Great Lakes Fishery CommissionAbigail J Lynch, USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center

Science & Management

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement specifies that the International Joint Commission establish and support a Great Lakes Science Advisory Board (SAB) to provide advice on research and scientific matters to the Commission and its Great Lakes Water Quality Board. The SAB believes improvements in our capacity to understand and forecast changes to the Laurentian Great Lakes ecosystem is needed. Consequently, the SAB has prepared a Great Lakes Decadal Science Strategy (summary report is available here) that broadly defines the science and traditional knowledge needs for understanding changes in the Great Lakes for the protection of the economic, social, and environmental health of the region. The SAB recently initiated the development of a more detailed Great Lakes Science Plan to further explore and describe science gaps and needs, identify resource management and governance arrangements for the delivery of a decadal scale expansion of the Great Lakes science enterprise, and estimate the needed level of investment. This session will explore the progress of the Science Plan, and how other ongoing SAB projects can inform the Science Plan- including topics related to winter science, microplastics monitoring and risk assessment, community science, valuation of ecosystem services, bridging Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and the development of an early warning system to identify and respond to emerging threats and stressors. This session will also explore insights on management, governance and science program delivery based on similar initiatives from the Great Lakes and elsewhere where shared-water coalitions exist around the world. Chaired by:Matthew Child, International Joint Commission Gail Krantzberg, McMaster UniversityLizhu Wang, International Joint Commission Val Klump, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Human Dimensions

We face a new era of challenges and opportunities in stewarding the Great Lakes. The management and policy regimes first developed over 100 years ago are ill-equipped to handle the complex, interrelated, generational problems confronting the Great Lakes region today in part because the natural and social sciences have operated in separated spheres. However, there is a growing recognition that more sophisticated sociological and economic integration with biophysical understanding of the Great Lakes is needed to improve management and achieve desired ecosystem and community objectives. The rising prominence of Traditional Knowledge, community-based science, environmental justice, transparent adaptive management, and ecosystem service valuation approaches that include nonuse values is shifting the way that research agendas are established and how technologies and data are acquired and used. Our governance structures have not yet followed suit but there are changes afoot. This session- built in part on a white paper produced by social scientists to broaden the existing Great Lakes restoration programs to address community dimensions, climate change, and Indigenous knowledge- will explore the intersection of natural science, social science and institutions, with presentations and discussions about enhancing the science-informed Great Lakes governance and management of the future. Chaired by:Mike Shriberg, University of MichiganJohn F Bratton, LimnoTech

Human Dimensions

Empowering youth to take action for our environment is key to sustaining the Great Lakes and local ecosystems for generations to come. Inspiring young people to take an interest in the natural world sets up the path for future leaders who understand and appreciate the importance of caring for ecosystems. Presentations in this session will help to answer the following questions: How are we educating youth about the current state of the Great Lakes and how the Great Lakes and humans are inextricably interconnected? What are the characteristics of successful initiatives to improve Great Lakes literacy with K-12 students, and formal and nonformal educators? How can we ensure future education efforts reach traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations? Lastly, how do we empower youth to care for and connect with the Great Lakes ecosystems? Chaired by:Kristin M TePas, IL-IN Sea Grant, University of ILMegan L Gunn, IL-IN Sea Grant, Purdue UniversityEmilie DeRochie-Poirier, River Institute Alysse Kennedy, Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto

Advances in Large Lakes Science, Technologies & Innovations
Ecosystem Types--Wetlands & Waterways
Human Dimensions
Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Collaborations
Land Stewardship & Restoration
Microbial Communities & cHABs
Physical & Biogeochemistry
Pollutants
Science & Management
Special Session
General Session

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