Schedule

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 , David Depew3 , Daniel Gurdak4 1 Cornell University-New York Sea Grant, 2Purdue University-Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, 3Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4US Environmental Protection Agency Region 2

• Whole Ecosystem Science and Management

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 1 U.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

• Biogeochemistry, Physics, and Modeling

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

• Contaminants, Pathogens, and Microbiology

In both the Laurentian Great Lakes and African Great Lakes, fish abundance and community composition have changed dramatically over the past half-century, and there are currently numerous management efforts to restore species. This session includes a collection of presentations that focus on research being conducted to support these management efforts, ranging from the effect of food web structure on lake trout recruitment to genetics and restoration of coregonines to the status of haplochromine species in Lake Victoria. Chaired by: Jacques Rinchard, SUNY Brockport

• Fish and Non-Indigenous Species

Chaired by: Yolanda López-Maldonado1 , Matthew Dellinger2 , Merrie Beth Neely3 , Jérôme Marty4 , Anham Salyani5 , Marc Habash6 1 Indigenous Science,2 Medical College of Wisconsin, 3Global Science & Technology and GEO AquaWatch, 4International Association for Great Lakes Research, 5World Water Quality Alliance- UNEP, 6University of Guelph

• Indigenous Knowledge

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

• Harmful and Nuisance Algae, Human Health

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 1 Illinois-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

• Communication, Outreach, and Training

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 1 Purdue University, 2United States Geological Survey

• Fish and Non-Indigenous Species

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

• Watersheds, Wetlands, and Coastal

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

• Harmful and Nuisance Algae, Human Health

• Plenary

Join us at the social! Food and drink available for purchase. The Beer Garden is accessible through the gate on 11th Street.