Adaptive management of the Great Lakes requires hydroclimate data for (1) testing water management alternatives under a range of hydroclimate conditions, (2) making decisions based on predicted hydroclimate conditions over varying time horizons, and (3) understanding and communicating impacts of hydroclimate activities and the ability and/or limitations of water management to address these impacts. The long history of binational water management along with modeling complexities resulting from the vast surface areas of the lakes, their interaction with the regional climate, and data discontinuities that result from combining observations and models from both sides of the border have resulted in a unique evolution of hydroclimate data, models, and their applications to water management. We seek presentations that describe advancements in hydroclimate data and models for use in Great Lakes adaptive management. In addition to submissions describing advancements in the hydroclimate science for the Great Lakes, we look for contributions that highlight the potential applications of hydrologic, hydraulic, atmospheric, and data science models to decision support and communication of the ability and/or limitation of water management strategies to mitigate impacts. We also welcome presentations that highlight the research gaps in hydroclimate science that might be narrowed in the coming years due to advancements in data availability and modeling efforts. This session is a continuation of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management Committee’s effort to identify research priorities to advance adaptive management for the Great Lakes.

Chaired by:
Deanna Fielder¹, Lauren Fry², Dani Jones³, Frank Seglenieks⁴, Scott Steinschneider⁵, David Cannon³

¹U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District, ²NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, ³University of Michigan Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, ⁴Environment and Climate Change Canada, ⁵Cornell University

Corresponding chair: Lauren Fry, lauren.fry@noaa.gov

The Earth’s atmosphere is a significant stressor on the large lakes of the world, and the large lakes have an equivalent feedback! From near-surface turbulence, to large-scale downstream dynamics, large bodies of water have unique and important interactions with the atmosphere. This year, IAGLR is taking place near multiple institutions with reputable atmospheric science research, and this session is welcoming all abstracts that focus on atmospheric interactions with large lakes. Research topics exploring the meteorological prediction or conceptual understanding of lake-atmosphere interactions may include weather time scale phenomena (lake-effect snow, lake surface influence on synoptic scale flow, lake breeze circulations, etc.), climate time scale phenomena (climate change in the atmosphere, seasonal temperature patterns and anomalies, aggregate effects of extratropical cyclones, etc.), and observations of relevant phenomena (remote sensing of precipitation and fluxes, in-situ observations of storm and lake circulations, etc.).

Chaired by:
Abby Hutson¹, David Wright²

¹U-M Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, ²Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

Corresponding chair: Abby Hutson, hutsona@umich.edu

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:
Mark Rowe¹, Reza Valipour², Casey Godwin³, Josef Ackerman⁴

¹NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, ²Environment and Climate Change Canada, ³University of Michigan, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, ⁴University of Guelph

Corresponding chair: Mark Rowe, mark.rowe@noaa.gov

This session’s focus is on the physical limnology of the Great Lakes and other lakes of the world. Papers are solicited dealing with field, modeling, AI/ML, experimental, and laboratory studies of physical processes in lakes and coastal regions, including, but not limited to, surface waves, internal waves, currents, turbulence, ice cover, stratification, and sediment transport. Studies focused on lakes of all sizes, big and small, are encouraged.

Chaired by:
David Cannon¹, Shuqi Lin², Yi Hong¹, Hazem Abdelhady¹

¹University of Michigan, CIGLR, ²Environment and Climate Change Canada

Corresponding chair: David Cannon, djcannon@umich.edu

With communities increasingly at the front lines of water challenges and institutional capacity stretched thin, the importance of volunteer-powered data collection, called “Citizen,” "Community," or “Participatory” science, continues to grow. Fortunately, Great Lakes residents have long felt a deep connection to their water resources. Participatory science groups have been harnessing this energy for years, enabling cost-effective collection of water quality data that expands the reach of traditional research while addressing local challenges. This session will explore the current state and future possibilities of Great Lakes participatory science in two sections - 1. Fundamental contributions of participatory science to research and management, and 2. Effective and authentic collaborations between participatory science groups and traditional institutions. Each section will end with interactive discussions that explore models for bottom-up and top-down approaches to uplift local work and strengthen connections with institutional players.

Chaired by:
Max Herzog¹, Gabrielle Parent-Doliner², Megan McLaughlin^{3, 4, 5}, Tori Agnew-Camiener^{3, 4, 5}

¹Cleveland Water Alliance, ²Water Rangers, ³Michigan Sea Grant, ⁴International Joint Commission, ⁵Great Lakes Commission

Corresponding chair: Max Herzog, mherzog@clewa.org

In the age of misinformation and distrust of scientific experts, it is imperative that research communication skills are up-to-date. Resilience in science communication means using different tools and techniques while learning from experts outside of our field. From social media to casual conversation with your neighbor and media requests, scientists need to communicate effectively to multiple audiences. A quality communicator can take an audience from where they are to where they need to be in order to develop a more scientifically literate society. This session will focus on innovative research involving science communications and the skills needed to accomplish communication goals. To make scientific research accessible to non-scientists, we must adapt to the ways in which the world is receiving its information and how we connect with diverse stakeholders. Using interdisciplinary approaches, Great Lakes scientists can learn from communications sciences, performing arts, and other fields to expand the ways in which pertinent scientific information is distributed to audiences. Other techniques, such as focus groups and adaptive management are established in various fields but are emerging in science communication. Integrating a suite of communication tools provides avenues to further develop your career, no matter what stage or profession. We encourage potential speakers to share ways in which they incorporate data collection and analysis, gamification, new technology, and other creative ways to ensure maximum engagement. We welcome abstract submissions from anyone who wants to share the unique ways in which they have found success or failure in science communication.

Chaired by:
Anna Boegehold¹, Nicole Wood², Allison Devereaux³

¹Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, ²IAGLR, ³Western University

Corresponding chair: Anna Boegehold, annaboeg@umich.edu

Great Lakes residents are facing increasing water insecurity due to life-threatening floods, declining water quality, invasive species, toxic chemicals, and harmful algal blooms. These environmental challenges are complex and interconnected, requiring more than a single-discipline approach to fully understand them. Researchers tackling the toughest questions on resilience come from diverse fields and have often learned to collaborate across disciplines. They must not only understand the underlying scientific systems but also translate their findings into practical, actionable solutions.

Science is essential in shaping policies, programs, and plans that protect water resources and future generations. While leaders have the potential to drive positive change, the growing scale and complexity of water challenges make this increasingly difficult.

How can we prepare the next generation of water leaders to contribute to the strengthening of Great Lakes resilience amidst these interconnected, transdisciplinary issues? How can we ensure that youth not only have the technical expertise required to understand this complexity of the challenges but also develop the ability to ensure this knowledge can be applied to practical solutions and decision-making in diverse settings?

This session will highlight real-world examples and research on early-career programs that build skills for making research more accessible, relevant, and actionable for decision-makers. We invite abstracts that showcase successful early-career programs, networks, curricula, or professional development courses, focusing on both the challenges and opportunities for enhancing research impact.

Chaired by:
Nancy Goucher, University of Waterloo
nancy.goucher@uwaterloo.ca

Amp up the impact of your research and outreach through educational resources. Learn about the various ways that educators have converted science topics into hands-on learning experiences for K - 12 youth. Explore the educational benefits of hands-on resources and tools in and outside the classroom. Presenters will share resources that have proven effective in teaching about the Great Lakes. Presentations in this session will help to answer the following questions: How can research be incorporated into educational materials? How can a complex science topic be distilled into a lesson? How can educational resources address multiple lake stressors and the mechanisms to adapt to these stressors?

Chaired by:
Kristin TePas¹, Nate Drag², Ginny Carlton³, Kelsey Prihoda⁴

¹Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois, ²New York Sea Grant, University of Buffalo, ³Wisconsin Sea Grant, University of Wisconsin, ⁴Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota Duluth

Corresponding chair: Kristin TePas, ktepas@illinois.edu

Petroleum hydrocarbon spills into inland waters have become a concern due to their extensive use in power generation, manufacturing, and chemical industries. Pipelines and other critical supply chain infrastructure (including marine traffic) are located adjacent to, on top of, and underneath, lakes and their tributaries. Research on oil exposure in freshwater ecosystems and the development of effective spill response technologies and strategies are required, as these systems have been understudied compared to marine environments. There is a need to enhance our level of oil spill preparedness and response measures as inland waters provide the majority of the world’s drinking water, support the blue economy, and are of cultural significance for many Indigenous people. This session will highlight the importance of freshwater oil spill research and the collaborations between researchers, emergency managers, and coastal communities aimed at improving our ability to predict, prepare for, respond to, and recover from oil spills. Attendees of this session will hear from a variety of perspectives and can expect to learn more about:
- Emerging tools and technologies for freshwater oil spill detection, monitoring, and response for use over a range of environmental conditions that include the presence of ice.
- Regional case studies (e.g., Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway System) to illustrate the impact of oil spills to communities and economies.
- Lessons learned that may help to advance ecosystem and community resilience.

Chaired by:
Kelsey Prihoda¹, Kenneth Lee², Aude Lochet³, Jérôme Marty⁴

¹Minnesota Sea Grant, ²Kenneth Lee Research Inc., ³Lake Champlain Sea Grant, ⁴International Association for Great Lakes Research

Corresponding chair: Kelsey Prihoda, priho011@d.umn.edu

The Laurentian Great Lakes are affected by a wide range of legacy and emerging organic contaminants and metals. These contaminants can result in fish consumption advisories and other waterbody use restrictions within contaminated regions (i.e., federally designated Areas of Concern) as well as nearshore and offshore environments across the Great Lakes ecosystem. The release, transformation, transport, and bioaccumulation of different contaminants is dependent on a wide array of physical, chemical, and biological factors. In turn, each of these factors is responsive to many local and global changes, such as changing source portfolios, climate change, biological invasions, and bioenergetics. Limited understanding of the response of contaminant fate and transport processes to the abovementioned co-occurring stressors can obscure forecasting of management action outcomes. By developing a mechanistic understanding of contaminant cycling, we can better predict and ultimately manage the impact of local and global change on contaminant-based impairments. Emerging methods and large multidisciplinary studies offer an opportunity to develop such mechanistic understandings. For this session, we invite abstracts that target biogeochemical and food web focused contaminant studies within the Great Lakes and their watersheds. Emphasis will be placed on presentations that use multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches or novel methods; target a mechanistic understanding of contaminant fate or transport in waters, sediments, or aquatic food webs; or target understudied but important contaminants in the system.

Chaired by:
Benjamin D. Peterson¹, Sarah E. Janssen², Ryan F. Lepak³, Christopher T. Filstrup⁴

¹University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, School of Freshwater Sciences, ²United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, ³United States Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, ⁴University of Minnesota - Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute

Corresponding chair: Benjamin D. Peterson, petersob@uwm.edu

In this session, we will explore recent advancements in research efforts on the characterization, fate and transport of microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other emerging contaminants as well as the role of natural organic matter (NOM) and environmental conditions in regulating the chemical speciation, reactivities, and biogeochemical cycling of emerging contaminants in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater ecosystems. Abstracts dealing with fundamental and applied research, including field studies, laboratory experiments, and modeling on emerging contaminants and natural and anthropogenic organic matter in water, sediment, and biota, are all welcome.

Chaired by:
Laodong Guo¹, John Lenhart², Elizabeth Minor³

¹University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, ²Ohio State University, ³University of Minnesota-Duluth

Corresponding chair: Laodong Guo, guol@uwm.edu

Over the past 200 years, salinity levels in many of the world's Great Lakes have risen significantly due to human activities, particularly the discharge of wastewater from industrial facilities. In addition, the Laurentian Great Lakes face added pressures from road salt application and runoff, which are used to prevent ice formation on roads and walkways. This session will feature presentations on the latest research concerning the impacts of salt on Great Lakes ecosystems, its sources, and the role of climate change in the rising salinization trend. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among policymakers, scientists, and communities to develop effective monitoring techniques, mitigation strategies, and policies aimed at reducing harmful effects and preserving the integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Chaired by:
Donna R. Kashian¹, Héctor Esparra-Escalera¹, Margaret R Menso¹

¹Wayne State University

Corresponding chair: Donna R. Kashian, dkashian@wayne.edu

Microorganisms are integral to aquatic food webs, whether they are cycling elements and releasing nutrients, driving primary productivity, or determining net greenhouse gas flux, lakes are a rich tapestry of microbial diversity. Furthermore, their roles as microbiome partners for higher eukaryotes and plankton enhance their ubiquity in these systems. This session aims to highlight all aspects of microbial life in Earth’s large lakes and take a deep dive into the central roles of microorganisms, viruses, and microeukaryotes in freshwater systems.

Chaired by:
Cody Sheik¹, Ryan Newton²

¹University of Minnesota Duluth, ²University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Corresponding chair: Cody Sheik, cssheik@d.umn.edu

From the macro to nano scale, plastic waste has been found in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments across the globe. The Laurentian Great Lakes watershed is no exception, and no Great Lake is immune to the harmful impacts of plastic. It has been estimated that nearly 10,000 metric tons of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes each year from the United States and Canada. Researchers have found that approximately 90% of water samples collected from the Great Lakes over 10 years contained levels of microplastics unsafe for wildlife.

As a growing and environmentally urgent field of study, understanding the pathways and sources of diverse types of plastic debris as well as their impacts on communities throughout the Great Lakes basin is critical to developing effective, lasting efforts to stem the flow of plastic into the environment.

Building from the successful plastic debris session and panel at IAGLR in 2024, this session will once again gather diverse experts to showcase the advancements in plastic debris prevention, research methods, and results while identifying how to overcome gaps in the actionable reduction of Great Lakes macro and microplastics. Similar to last year, the session will conclude with an interactive panel of presenters to further explore and synthesize the day's conversations.

Chaired by:
Haley Dalian¹, Brittany Welsh², Madelyne Cosme³

¹NOAA, ²Trent University, ³Canada Water Agency

Corresponding chair: Haley Dalian, haley.dalian@noaa.gov

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. 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 Sturtevant¹, Connor Shelly¹

¹Michigan Sea Grant

Corresponding chair: Rochelle Sturtevant, rochelle.sturtevant@noaa.gov

The Laurentian Great Lakes have undergone extensive spatial and temporal shifts due to anthropogenic stressors and changing climate conditions. Many of these changes have directly affected ecosystem-level processes which directly impact Great Lakes fish assemblages across the region. Understanding how fish have historically and will likely respond to these changes presents numerous challenges to the effective management of fisheries. Thus, there is a critical need to explore how Great Lakes fisheries are adapting to and building resiliency in the face of ongoing climate and ecosystem-level changes. For this session, we invite presentations that address a broad range of topics related to understanding fish population dynamics within the Great Lakes, including shifts in fish assemblages and communities, advancements in modeling Great Lakes ecosystems, the diversity of habitats supporting food webs and fisheries, and innovative strategies for habitat restoration.

Chaired by:
Les Warren¹, Spencer Gardner¹

¹Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University

Corresponding chair: Les Warren, warre112@purdue.edu

Can we do it? Should we do it? The CRISPR/Cas system is a cutting edge technology that presents new opportunities for managing invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. Traditional methods, such as barriers and lampricides, often face significant challenges—they can be costly, environmentally disruptive, and sometimes ineffective. CRISPR-Cas enables a promising alternative by allowing for precise genetic alterations, which could result in more effective and sustainable control of sea lampreys. Genetic control has the potential to both eradicate invasive sea lamprey and reduce the costs associated with current control options, but it also brings forward new challenges and unanswered questions. This session will explain the science of CRISPR/Cas, provide strategies for effective science education, and emphasize the importance of integrating both Indigenous and Western science in environmental decision-making. The presenters aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of how genetic control could transform sea lamprey management in the Great Lakes and will also begin discussions on addressing the associated challenges and uncertainties.

Chaired by:
Noah Gauthier¹, Margaret Docker², Jill Furgurson³

¹University of Ottawa, ²University of Manitoba, ³North Carolina State University

Corresponding chair: Noah Gauthier, ngaut035@uottawa.ca

Ecotypic diversity of fish is crucial for maintaining the resilience and stability of lentic ecosystems. This diversity, which reflects the variation in traits and behaviors among populations adapted to different environmental conditions, allows species to thrive in a wide range of habitats and respond to ecological changes. Such diversity enhances the ecosystem's ability to withstand and recover from disturbances, such as climate change, invasive species, and pollution. It also supports the sustainability of fisheries, as different ecotypes can contribute to the overall productivity and health of fish populations. Preserving this diversity is essential for ensuring the long-term ecological balance and economic benefits provided by lentic systems. Presentations in this session will focus on describing and understanding the evolution of intraspecific diversity in lakes. Suggested topics include investigations of intraspecific diversity, population structure and local adaptation, behavioral variation, phenotypic plasticity, or heritable phenotypic variation.

Chaired by:
Peter Euclide¹, Max Moran¹, Amanda Ackiss²

¹Purdue University, ²United States Geological Survey

Corresponding chair: Peter Euclide, peter.euclide@gmail.com

Due to the dominant effects of invasive species, eutrophication, overfishing, habitat disruption, and other such immediate stressors, climate change has been viewed historically as a long-term stressor of lower research priority in the Laurentian Great Lakes. However, the effects of changing temperature, precipitation, and ice cover, among other conditions, on Great Lakes ecosystems are already appearing and are likely to become an increasingly dominant force in the coming decades. Moreover, climate change may interact with other stressors in new, complex ways to produce emergent ecosystem properties and unexpected changes in fish communities and the fisheries that they support. These effects may not be the same across Lakes, underscoring the need for resilient and adaptable research and management systems. Hosted by the NOAA Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative for the Great Lakes Region, this session seeks to bring together managers and scientists to share the latest research on the effects of climate change, both direct and through interactions with other factors, on fished species in the Laurentian Great Lakes. The session will culminate in a discussion focused on distilling common themes, identifying high priority research needs, and fostering new collaborations to work together to support climate resilience in Great Lakes fisheries management.

Chaired by:
Joseph Langan¹, Riley Ravary², Peter Alsip¹, Meena Raju²

¹NOAA GLERL, ²University of Michigan

Corresponding chair: Joseph Langan, joseph.langan@noaa.gov

Our understanding of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and dynamics within the Great Lakes is rapidly evolving. Advancements in monitoring and research, technology, and capacity to explore greater spatial and temporal scales of HAB occurrence are allowing for improved ability to anticipate HAB events and respond with appropriate management action. With progressive climate change pressures, development, and land modification, it is imperative that our understanding of HAB dynamics within the Great Lakes keep pace to ensure resiliency against this significant ecosystem health threat. This session will share recent advancements related to all aspects of Great Lakes HABs, including causes, consequences, and management considerations. We invite presentations that span multiple HABs systems or interdisciplinary approaches, as well as those addressing: (1) present state of HABs knowledge and science; (2) strategies and methodologies to detect and measure blooms and toxins, treatment, and mitigation efforts; and (3) management and policy considerations for enhanced resilience to HAB occurrence in the Great Lakes.

Chaired by:
Ryan J. Sorichetti¹, Mary Anne Evans², Nicole Zacharda³, Jenan Kharbush⁴

¹Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, ²United States Geological Survey, ³Great Lakes Commission, ⁴University of Michigan

Corresponding chair: Ryan J. Sorichetti, ryan.sorichetti@ontario.ca

Climate change is already affecting aquatic environmental conditions, hazardous exposures, and human health in the Great Lakes. An International Joint Commission Health Professionals Advisory Board workgroup has proposed that each of these be monitored ongoing to improve modeling of these relationships, and to identify when and where improvements in mitigation, adaptation and resilience-building may be needed to protect human health in the region. Session chairs will describe the creation of a conceptual model of climate impacts on human health specific to aquatic environment change; three case studies of climate change effects on human health in the Great Lakes; the selection of proposed monitoring indicators; and discussion of how a monitoring system might be constructed and used. Other speakers will address related elements of the climate-health relationship in the Great Lakes. Feedback from session participants may be used to advance improved monitoring for the future.

Chaired by:
Seth Foldy¹, Raj Bejankiwar²

¹Denver Health and Hospital Authority; International Joint Commission Health Professional Advisory Committee, ²International Joint Commission

Corresponding chair: Seth Foldy, sethfoldy@icloud.com

Researchers from the University of Toledo Water Task Force will present overviews of the major scientific advances in understanding and addressing Lake Erie Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) over the last decade since the 2014 Toledo Water Crisis. Topics will include human health implications, assessing impacts from land use activities in the Maumee Watershed, improvements to monitoring the annual emergence of HABs in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, efforts to enhance detection and treatment in local drinking water treatment systems, studies of the dynamics behind the release of toxins into Lake Erie due to biophysical factors, and various related outcomes from state and federal research grant funded projects.

Chaired by:
Patrick Lawrence, University of Toledo
patrick.lawrence@utoledo.edu

Achieving resilience in any Great Lakes system requires the equitable inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, with further strength gained by recognizing their observations, data sovereignty, and the intrinsic value of their Indigenous knowledge. Addressing challenges and barriers to assessing water quality based on Indigenous knowledge and Earth observations has become a global priority to facilitate respectful information sharing with decision-makers for societal benefit. Networks such as MAGIK (Melding AquaWatch and Global Indigenous Knowledge) are exploring ways to combine Earth observation data with Indigenous Peoples' Ecological Knowledge, which offers a deeper understanding of ecosystems beyond the scope of conventional Western science. This work has also underscored the importance of data sovereignty when information collected on Indigenous lands is made public.

In this session, we invite oral and poster presentations that share examples or case studies where Indigenous knowledge and Earth observations in Great Lakes systems, sustained engagement with Indigenous partners as equals, or cultural awareness and respect for data sovereignty were foundational to the success of national or regional resilience projects or programs.

Chaired by:
Yolanda López-Maldonado¹, Merrie Beth Neely², Jérôme Marty³, Anham Salyani⁴

¹Indigenous Science, ²Global Science & Technology and GEO AquaWatch, ³International Association for Great Lakes Research, ⁴World Water Quality Alliance- UNEP

Corresponding chair: Yolanda López-Maldonado, yolandalopez2882@gmail.com

This session aims to emphasize the importance of community-driven research, exploring how Indigenous leadership in environmental governance strengthens partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, policymakers, and organizations. By focusing on Indigenous-led research programs, the session will highlight successes, share lessons learned, and discuss strategies for overcoming challenges such as colonial frameworks, systemic barriers, and power imbalances. This session seeks to create space to demonstrate how Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being are applied to, care for, restore, and foster resilience in Great Lakes ecosystems. Topics will include (but not limited to) Indigenous-led water quality and contaminants monitoring, species restoration, and land and water stewardship programs that bring together multiple ways of knowing.

This session builds upon the IAGLR special issue "Bridging Knowledge Systems: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous" by highlighting Indigenous-led research and initiatives within the Great Lakes Basin including ongoing research programs led by members of the Indigenous Great Lakes Network. This session will showcase innovative, community-driven approaches that center Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) and leadership.

The goal of this session is to amplify the voices of Indigenous researchers and knowledge-holders, and to inspire ongoing collaboration that prioritizes Indigenous leadership in ecosystem stewardship for the health, resilience, and sustainability of the Great Lakes.

Chaired by:
Mary-Claire Buell¹, Barbara Wall¹, Alex Duncan², Janessa Esquible³

¹Trent University, ²University of British Columbia, ³University of Fairbanks Alaska

Corresponding chair: Mary-Claire Buell, maryclairebuell@trentu.ca

Wild rice, manoomin, translated from Ojibwe means “good berry.” Anishinaabe origin stories teach that Anishinaabe people migrated from the east having been told to settle when they find the food that grows upon the water, thus leading them to the Great Lakes region. Wild rice is known to be sensitive to environmental degradation. Wild rice harvests are further influenced by socio-economic conditions, natural disaster responses, and jurisdictional differences in management. In Northern WI rice abundance declined by approximately half (in both acreage and abundance surveys) from 1985-2013. Rice abundance and total biomass have similarly declined by half or more from 1998-2020 in the Northern MN. The specific cause of these declines is debated. Multiple environmental factors are likely. Interacting factors such as hydrology, sediment conditions, industrial runoff, temperature, and competing vegetation affect wild rice growth. Parasites and diseases may also vary based on environmental factors. For example, changes to climate are likely to affect rice abundance. Furthermore, sulfide runoff from mining is well known to impede rice growth.

This session will explore the connection between human and ecosystem health via wild rice stewardship, harvesting, and consumption. Topics may include water quality, nutrition, ecology, and social science relating to cultural practices. Attendees will leave the session with an improved understanding of wild rice as an ecological sentinel species and its potential importance to human health. Future priorities for Great Lakes research will be discussed.

Chaired by:
Matthew Dellinger¹, Marc Habash²

¹Medical College of Wisconsin, ²University of Guelph

Corresponding chair: Matthew Dellinger, mdellinger@mcw.edu

Observations are a critical component to understanding the current state of the ecosystem for direct measurements, future comparisons, and inclusion in models as sources of validation. Advances in observing technologies and their applications have expanded over the last 5 to 10 years. We invite presentations that highlight emerging observing efforts around the Great Lakes region, from in-lake monitoring to atmospheric stations and novel measurements with a direct pipeline to advanced applications that utilize this data. Applications can include modeling and associated products, data assimilation, and adjustments to regional forecasts.

Chaired by:
Shelby Brunner¹, Timothy Calappi², Hayden Henderson³, Andrea Vander Woude⁴, Steve Ruberg⁴

¹Great Lakes Observing System, ²U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ³Michigan Technological University, ⁴NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

Corresponding chair: Shelby Brunner, shelby@glos.org

The rapid pace of technological innovation has enabled radical shifts in environmental sensing and monitoring capabilities. Newly affordable solutions for distributed in‐situ monitoring, remote sensing, community science, and data fusion offer broad opportunities to build the research, management, and community capacity needed to understand, protect, and restore water resources across the Great Lakes Basin. New technology is enabling a broader movement of water monitoring by community groups, municipal actors, cross-sector partnerships, and industry leaders across the states and provinces along the shoreline. These technologies enhance our ability to provide functional, streamlined solutions for water quality monitoring of ever-changing conditions. This infrastructure enables early warning and real-time insights for industry, utility, agriculture, maritime, and recreational interests across the Lake and its tributaries. This session will highlight case studies and innovative tech to explore the next generation of lake data collection and analysis systems. By bringing together perspectives from research, nonprofit, and industry, this session will not only showcase technologies and research methods, it will also highlight the collaborations and partnerships that enable development, piloting, and field operation. Consider this session a water tech symposium, with submissions including experiential components such as on‐stage demonstrations of wireless sensor networking or navigating real-time data with VR technology along with conventional research presentations. Users of the newly created testbed program will also be featured that help companies rapidly test and deploy technology on the Great Lakes.

Chaired by:
Edward Verhamme¹, Emily Hamilton², Todd Miller³

¹LimnoTech, ²Cleveland Water Alliance, ³University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Corresponding chair: Edward Verhamme, everhamme@limno.com

In 2023, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body (“Regional Body”) and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council (“Compact Council”) released their Cumulative Impact Assessment covering the years 2016-2020. In addition to looking at the impacts of the Cumulative Impacts of Withdrawals, Diversions and Consumptive Uses, the CIA noted that “…with the potential for changes in the growing season due to changes in the climate, the forecasting of the demand by the agricultural sector may be of particular interest as the region’s water managers work to ensure that water is available for such uses.”

Priority research themes for the next five years were included in the 2024 Regional Body and Compact Council’s updated Science Strategy. Reflecting the importance of water use in the agricultural sector, “Agricultural water use and water efficiency” is the Regional Body/Compact Council Science Team’s focus area for 2025. Accordingly, this session will focus on research related to agricultural water use in the Great Lakes and Midwest region, agricultural impacts on water budgets, advancing water demand forecasting in the agricultural sector, and advancing water efficiency in agricultural settings with the overall intention of informing water policy makers.

Chaired by:
Peter Johnson¹, Shaili Pfeiffer²

¹Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers, ²Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Corresponding chair: Peter Johnson, pjohnson@gsgp.org

Traditionally, research of riverine loading to lakes has focused on sediment and nutrients - particularly as drivers of harmful algal blooms and other community and ecosystem processes. However, other constituents of water quality, such as toxic chemical loading, can lead to the destruction of habitats and biodiversity. Further, biotic components such as algae, invertebrates, and vertebrates often disperse from rivers to lakes which can cause seasonal shifts to the lake ecosystem and can drive long-term ecosystem changes. This session seeks to explore the role that tributaries and connecting systems play in large lake ecosystem processes and community structure. Topics can include, but are not limited to, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, harmful algal blooms, ecosystem services, habitat availability, geomorphology, nutrient/sediment dynamics, and international policy, especially those using novel field and/or statistical techniques.

Chaired by:
Douglas Kane^{1, 2}, Nathan Manning^{1, 2}, Colleen Cosgrove^{1, 2}

¹Heidelberg University, ²National Center for Water Quality Research

Corresponding chair: Douglas Kane, dkane@heidelberg.edu

The coasts of the North American Great Lakes (NAGL) are geomorphically diverse and dynamic systems that influence water quality, provide valuable ecosystem services, and support major economic activity. These coasts include morphologies ranging from hard rock cliffs and cohesive bluffs to sandy shores and wetlands, each with unique and potentially nonstationary morphodynamic responses to environmental perturbations. A similar compositional diversity exists in the nearshore, yielding many unique combinations of onshore and offshore morphology. The evolution of coastal systems is influenced by lithology, biology, atmospheric forcing, and anthropogenic factors. These processes are interdependent, i.e., coastal erosion and nutrient delivery, nearshore morphodynamics and wave transformation, or vegetative succession and aeolian deposition. Coastal processes in the NAGL are understudied relative to marine coasts, limiting our ability to provide the decision-ready science that managers need to protect ecosystems and limit natural hazards exposure. The climate and geology of the NAGL coastlines are unique and advancing the field requires research on individual processes, intersections and feedback mechanisms between processes, and integrative syntheses of system behavior. This session will highlight recent research on NAGL coastal evolution, the physical processes active along the nearshore and shoreline, and their implications for the environment and society. We encourage submissions of field, laboratory, remote sensing, modeling, and public policy research that investigates coastal processes and/or their societal implications at any spatiotemporal scale.

Chaired by:
Chelsea Volpano¹, Collin Roland^{1, 2}, Ethan Theuerkauf³, Luke Zoet¹

¹University of Wisconsin Madison, ²U.S. Geologic Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center, ³Michigan State University

Corresponding chair: Chelsea Volpano, cvolpano@wisc.edu

High frequency water level fluctuations have been associated with a critical set of coastal hazards like dangerous currents, sudden water level surges that overtop coastal structures and sweep people off piers, rapid water level drawdowns to navigation threats. In the Great Lakes, these high-frequency water level oscillations like meteotsunamis, infragravity waves, edge waves, seiches, etc. have not yet or barely been detected by existing monitoring infrastructure and current state-of-the art modeling prediction, prone to dangerous beach hazards to the public. For example, a recent study reported that 65% of drowning incidents in Lake Michigan were caused by meteorologically-induced high-frequency oscillations. The aim of this session is to call attention to high-frequency water level fluctuations and the induced coastal hazards. Studies that (i) characterize high-frequency water level fluctuations, dangerous currents, drowning incidents, etc., (ii) test innovative monitoring platforms (buoys, sensors, communication networks, etc.), and (iii) develop predicted models and toolkits to detect and issue warning for high-frequency water level fluctuations-induced coastal hazards, and (iv) engage stakeholder groups and communities to address high-frequency water level fluctuations induced coastal are particularly welcomed. The goal is to provide a broad forum to discuss insights and strategies to mitigate the impact of coastal hazards induced by high frequency water level fluctuations on water safety in the Great Lakes.

Chaired by:
Chin Wu¹, Eric Anderson², Guy Meadows³, Megan Dodson⁴

¹University of Wisconsin-Madison, ²Colorado School of Mines, ³Michigan Technological University, ⁴NWS Northern Indiana WFO

Corresponding chair: Chin Wu, chinwu@engr.wisc.edu

Great Lakes coastal marshes have adapted to water-level fluctuations, a primary driver of wetland plant biodiversity. The species mix of aquatic plants is known to change according to water-level conditions. Global climate has altered the net basin supply to these lakes, and have contributed to record-shattering high and/or low water levels being recorded in Lakes Huron-Michigan, Erie and Ontario over the past two decades. The ecological consequence of these water-level extremes includes establishment of alien invasive plants that have had cascading effects on upper trophic levels, and reduced plant and fish biodiversity compared with more typical water levels. Papers are invited to contribute both short-term and long-term responses of wetland ecosystems to atypical pattern of water-level fluctuations in all Great Lakes and connecting channels, with the goal of synthesizing current knowledge and revealing research gaps that must be filled to mitigate further impacts of extreme water levels on our green infrastructure.

Chaired by:
Patricia Chow-Fraser, McMaster University
chowfras@mcmaster.ca

Wetlands are the connective tissue between widespread agricultural and urban runoff and downstream ecosystems; so they play a significant role in determining the water quality, and resilience of the Great Lakes. Wetlands, even seemingly disconnected wetlands, act as buffers to the movement of water and pollutants across the landscape, which have been shown to reduce nutrient loading, therein reducing the severity of harmful algal blooms. The ability for wetlands to retain nutrients relies on their connectivity to sources, and sinks of nutrients. As wetlands are increasingly restored or constructed for the purpose of mitigating nutrient pollution, understanding from where and when wetlands receive, release, and store nutrients is critical to maximize nutrient retention. Such understanding is especially important amidst management tradeoffs (i.e., habitat, stormwater control) and multiple stressors (i.e., flood, drought, tile drain outputs). In this session we invite talks that discuss the connectivity between wetlands and nutrient sources- across landscapes, over time, or between the water column, sediments, and vegetation. This includes talks that highlight difficulties and successes in monitoring wetlands within the Great Lakes region, talks that harmonize datasets across different parameters or institutions, and talks that make explicit connections between management, policy, and science. Our goal in this session is to address how connectivity, both across landscapes and within individual wetlands, modifies their ability to retain nutrients, and how we can leverage monitoring and management to understand and enhance that nutrient retention.

Chaired by:
Kenneth Anderson¹, Michael Back¹, Olivia Schloegel¹, Lauren Brown²

¹Kent State University, ²Bowling Green State University

Corresponding chairs: Olivia Schloegel, ojohns16@kent.edu & Kenneth Anderson, kande120@kent.edu

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coastal resilience is the ability of communities to “bounce back” from hazardous events. Zoning laws affect how communities accomplish this. In this session, the audience will hear from a multidisciplinary group of experts on the intersection between changing lake levels and shorelines and the built environment of the Great Lakes. This session will evaluate the laws that govern the built environment, such as shoreland zoning, bluff zoning, and erosion control structures. We will explore whether these laws are aligned with the realities of a Great Lakes changing shoreline, and how these policies can be better informed by science.

Presenters will come from a diverse range of backgrounds, e.g., law and policy, biology, and engineering. They will analyze the setback and zoning laws that exist in Great Lakes states and explore their efficacy in preventing new homes from being built close to eroding shorelines and bluffs. Presenters will discuss methods of shoreline armoring that have been used in response to the ambulatory shorelines; public funding sources of these projects and implications for public access; the environmental impacts of armoring; and the different levels of government involved in shaping the built environment near the Great Lakes. The session will incorporate environmental justice considerations, including how these issues affect the ability of the public to access public trust resources.

Chaired by:
Melissa Scanlan¹, Cora Sutherland¹, Emma Ehrlich¹

¹UW-Milwaukee Center for Water Policy

Corresponding chair: Emma Ehrlich, ehrliche@uwm.edu

Annex 10 (Science Annex) of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) coordinates the binational Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) in support of Great Lakes ecosystem assessment and management. The CSMI process includes enhanced monitoring and science-based field activities conducted in one Great Lake per year, which are implemented in support of science priorities identified by the GLWQA Annex 2 Lake Partnerships. The 2023 Lake Ontario CSMI investigations by federal agencies and partners addressed key knowledge gaps among five science priority themes including chemical contaminant pollution, nutrient and bacterial pollution, habitat and native species, invasive species, and other stressors. Here, we will provide an overview of the CSMI five-year cycle that involves the development of science priorities, field year planning, intensive field year science and monitoring, analysis, and reporting to decision-makers. A summary of field activities that took place during the Lake Ontario CSMI field year and results of those efforts will be shared, and next steps for reporting results of the 2023 effort will be highlighted.

Chaired by:
Stacy Furgal¹, Paris Collingsworth², Annie Scofield³, David Depew⁴, Daniel Gurdak⁵

¹Cornell University-New York Sea Grant, ²Purdue University-Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, ³US Environmental Protection Agency-Great Lakes National Program Office, ⁴Environment and Climate Change Canada, ⁵US Environmental Protection Agency Region 2

Corresponding chair: Stacy Furgal, slf85@cornell.edu

Ecological restoration in the Great Lakes region faces numerous challenges, including pollution, climate change, invasive species, and shifting hydrological patterns. Significant funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has helped restore many impacted ecosystems. However, some critical questions remain: What have we learned? How successful have projects been in restoring ecosystems and what are the challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that restoration actions are not only implemented correctly but produce the intended restoration outcomes? This symposium will explore the theme of “Enhancing Quality in Great Lakes Restoration,” focusing on lessons learned and strategies for fostering resilient ecosystems. Speakers will address various subthemes such as: quality oversight during project implementation; sediment and water quality remediation; ecosystem and social resilience; climate mitigation; innovation and knowledge sharing; monitoring the effectiveness of restoration efforts; and design and use of nature-based solutions.

Chaired by:
Craig Palmer¹, Timothy Lewis¹

¹Government contractor

Corresponding chair: Timothy Lewis, timothy.lewis2@gdit.com

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are increasingly viewed as significant contributors to reducing the impacts of climate change in the Great Lakes basin. By protecting, restoring, or expanding ecosystems, NBS provide a wide range of benefits, including carbon emission mitigation, filtration, flood reduction, and biodiversity enhancement.

NBS also offer governments the potential to achieve environmental goals across various scales. This includes improved agricultural practices, wetland conservation, and restoration at the regional level, as well as meeting global emissions and biodiversity targets. However, despite growing adoption, a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of NBS is needed to clarify their role, the permanence of their benefits, and their long-term sustainability.

This session will highlight both the successes and challenges of implementing NBS for the protection of Great Lakes ecosystems, bringing together scientists, engineers, and decision-makers to share their insights and experiences.

Chaired by:
Jérôme Marty¹, Scott Parker²

¹International Association for Great Lakes Research, ²Parks Canada

Corresponding chair: Jérôme Marty, jmarty@iaglr.org

Long-term monitoring often captures seasonal and annual change in plankton communities, while briefer studies often achieve high resolution and more extensive spatial resolution. Both are important in understanding controlling factors that structure plankton biomass levels and composition. We welcome contributions that focus on traditional net and dredge sampling approaches as well as novel autonomous technologies.

Chaired by:
James Watkins¹ , Nik Barulin², Lyubov Burlakova², Lars Rudstam¹

¹Cornell University, ²SUNY Buffalo State

Corresponding chair: James Watkins, jmw237@cornell.edu

This session invites presentations with an emphasis on tropical lakes and tropical aquatic ecosystems broadly. Any aspect of limnology, biogeochemistry, hydrogeology, land-water margin interactions, mangrove ecology, paleolimnology, or human resource dimensions are welcome and encouraged. Tropical lakes have unique characteristics and are increasingly subject to impacts from human activities, climate change, and perturbation by extreme events. Both historical/paleo- and current dynamics are of interest. Both poster and oral presentations are welcome.

Chaired by:
Val Klump¹, Jerry Kaster¹, Hector Hernandez²

¹University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, ²ECOSUR, Chetumal, Mexico

Corresponding chair: Val Klump, vklump@uwm.edu

Please include any abstract in which you are unsure of what session to submit to.

Corresponding chair: Harvey Bootsma, hbootsma@uwm.edu