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Sea Grant 2003 Updates Archive |
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Links in the archive are not updated - many may be broken over time. URLs which are not linked are no longer valid (retained as historical).
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December 18, 2003Contents: ___________________________________________________________________________ The Detroit Recreation Department will spend a total of $850,000 on two projects on Belle Isle to restore a lagoon and create a sturgeon-spawning habitat. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced today that the city has received a $250,000 grant through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for ecological restoration of the 41-acre blue heron lagoon on the east end of Belle Isle. Kilpatrick said the recreation department is adding $100,000 in city funds to the grant from the Michigan Coastal Management program of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The $500,000 project to construct a lake sturgeon-spawning reef off Belle Isle will be funded by $309,2262 from the Michigan Coast Management program and $110,000 from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. The project is to be managed by the Michigan Sea Grant College program and SmithGroup JJR. 2. Ohio Sea Grant - An Alga a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: Research
Uses Engineered Alagae as Means to Vaccinate Fish New Ohio Sea Grant research is finding how genetically altered algae can be used as a way to vaccinate fish from IHNV, a viral disease that kills 30 percent of the U.S. trout population. Dr. Richard Sayre of Ohio State University continues his work with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular alga found abundantly all over the world. Originally studied as a way to recover harmful heavy metals locked in sediments, he has discovered the algae's use could be broadened. Sayre along with Dr. Richard Wagner expanded their research to see if the mircoalgae could be used as a way to vaccinate fish for Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV). Controlling fish diseases has long been a problem for the aquaculture industry. Antibiotics are not only useless for viral and many parasitic diseases, but they can only be partially absorbed by fish. Although fish vaccines are a more successful alternative, they can be costly, labor intensive, and stressful for the fish. "Unfortunately, the trouble with producing many vaccines is you need to identify the pathogen and then you need time to culture it," explains Sayre. "Our system doesn't require either." Using a peptide library of all the possible amino acid combinationsdisplayed on the surface of a virus (called a combinatorial phage display library), Sayre's team can rapidly screen for antigens using pathogen-specific antibodies. The screening process involves binding antibodies from a sick fish to polystyrene beads and removing loose viruses to isolate the antigen. "When the antigen is isolated by the screening process, we compare it to the known IHNV genome and known antigenic determinants to see if the process produced a viable antigen," states Sayre. His research has found a tentative antigenic peptide. Sayre and his team plan to test those antigens by conducting vaccine trials later this year through Sayre and Wagner's company, Phycotransgenics. The antigens will be attached to the outside of the Chlamydomonas cell, which will in turn be delivered to the fish through either food or immersion (water). "When fish (that are fed the algae) express antibodies against the antigen bound to the algae, we'll know this approach works, and we'll extend it toward other diseases," states Sayre. A patent is currently pending for this microalgal antigen delivery system. For Further Information Contact: Jill E. Jentes, Ohio Sea Grant 614.292.8949 or jentes.1@osu.edu 3. NY Sea Grant - Spreading Exotics Through Ballast Water In the game of ecological roulette, it takes only one species to alter an ecosystem. And in the case of the Great Lakes Basin, 150 years of shipping has made it home to nearly as many invaders. The critical issue: Are exotic species being transported by ballast water taken on by cargo ships in international waters - or by the slimy residue that remains on the walls of ballast tanks? University at Buffalo Professor Robert Baier recently completed a New York Sea Grant -funded study to target these potential invasive species introductions. Assisted by Anne Meyer, a UB Research Associate Professor, and former Sea Grant scholar Robert Forsberg, Baier developed and installed two kinds of samplers in the ballast water of several ships arriving in the U.S. from trans-Atlantic shipping. Both of these samplers collect biofilms on ballast water tank walls. A biofilm is a layer of organic slime made of microscopic larvae, bacteria, and other assorted bioinvasive organisms. Ballast Organic Biofilm, or "BOB," units captured and analyzed ballast water on voyages without on-board research teams. These samplers don't need a power source, so they were suspended in the ballast tanks and easily retrieved to collect data. The Portable Biofouling Units, or "PBUs," require more hands-on monitoring, but their setup made it easier to search for microorganisms as ballast water left the sampler. Most of the organisms in the ballast water detected by these samplers are barely visible: larval plankton and crustaceans such as barnacles and tiny crabs. Biofilms, considered the 'dental plaque of the ocean,' are not being removed by current mandates of routine mid-ocean ballast water exchanges. When ships empty their ballast, many microscopic species can become airborne and inhaled by workers nearby or tourists downwind, possibly spreading disease to new locations. Other microbes stay behind encased in resistant sacs that keep them protected until re-suspended when the ballast tanks are refilled. Having observed biofilms first-hand, Baier recommends inspecting ships entering the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway system, even those in a declared 'No Ballast on Board' condition. "Inspecting these ships and sampling their ballast tank bottoms and interior structures will help us better understand bioinvasion pathways and create international policies for controlling aquatic nuisance species," says Baier. Baier points to measures that can be taken to reduce the further spread of exotic species, like coating ballast water tanks with a non-toxic, non-polluting coating such as those used in cookware. "With this research, we've reached our goal of clarifying and emphasizing the role biofilms play in the transport of exotics in the ballast held by cargo vessels." Baier intends for information gathered in this study to be used by shipping and resource managers to help limit the spread of invasive microorganisms and protect the health of dock and ship personnel. 4. OH Sea Grant - Research Finds Reopening Coastal Wetlands
to Lake Erie Largely Increases Fish Diversity New Ohio Sea Grant research by Dr. Dave Johnson of Ohio State University is finding that an experimental dike used in the renovation of Lake Erie's Metzger Marsh could be a new method for marsh management that dramatically increases fish diversity in Lake Erie coastal wetlands. Through a 1992 joint project, the ODNR Division of Wildlife, the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited began a wetland restoration project of Metzger Marsh, a 906-acre coastal wetland located along Lake Erie's southwest shore. (The ODNR Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge now jointly manage the site.) Restoration efforts incorporated a dike to mimic the protective function of a natural barrier beach, along with never-before-usedwater-control gates in the dike that allowed a hydrologic connection withLake Erie. The gates were left open for a four-year period starting in 1999 to permit the marsh's water levels to fluctuate and reconnect "naturally"with lake levels. Johnson and his team collected and cataloged adult andjuvenile fish species within the marsh in 1994 prior to the dikeconstruction as well as every year since the gates were opened. What Johnson has discovered is the evolution of a different type of fish assemblage in the wetland after its restoration. "Phytophilic (i.e. vegetation-loving) fishes, like the largemouth bass and pumpkinseed, were rare in the marsh prior to the dike. As Metzger's vegetation increased (post-dike), we now find approximately 100 times as many largemouth bass and pumpkinseed compared to that in 1994," emphasizes Johnson. Both increased in the marsh although numbers of each have decreased in Lake Erie over the last few years. Diversity is not only determined by the number of species present (or species richness), but also by the evenness of the distribution amongst species. "Before its restoration, Metzger Marsh had more than 34 different fish species, with some species only represented by a few individuals," explains Eugene Braig, an Ohio State research associate working on the project. "We found the number of fish species didn't substantially change after restoration. However, numbers were more evenly distributed among species without the domination of a few." Using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index to chart the increase, they found that diversity has dramatically increased, as much as tripled, within an eight-year period. This evenness of distribution measured at Metzger Marsh is not typical of diked wetlands. Where most traditionally diked wetlands are dominated by a few tolerant species like carp, goldfish, and white crappie, Metzger has developed a mixture of phytophilic fish along with some representation of lake species. This increased diversity is more than likely because of the hydrologic connection to the lake says Braig. "Tolerant, invasive shallow-water species, like the carp and the goldfish, are still present in the marsh and have increased in number, but they have increased an order of magnitude less than native shallow-water species, like the largemouth bass and bluegill," states Braig. Johnson's team is currently analyzing the 2003 fish samples. "Metzger Marsh demonstrates that we can still take advantage of the benefits of dikes (wetland habitat protection) without compromising natural hydrology, aquatic habitat diversity, or fish populations," states Johnson. "Until Metzger Marsh, we had never measured such high fish diversity in a diked wetland. By reconnecting coastal marshes with the Lake's hydrology and occasionally closing these systems to manage invasive plant species, Lake Erie's wetlands could be restored and managed as coupled systems to again serve all biota." For Further Information Contact: Jill Jentes Banicki, Ohio Sea Grant 614.292.8949 or jentes.1@osu.edu 5. Web News 6. Publications Contents: The National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse quarterly digest, "Aquatic Invaders," publishes papers on research and policy initiatives relating to all types of freshwater, estuarine, and marine aquatic invasive and nuisance species issues. The digest is published quarterly, and is aimed at a technically literate audience, researchers, resource managers, utility managers, and policy makers. We welcome submissions. Please contact Diane Oleson (djo5@cornell.edu) for details NY Sea Grant - Aquatic Invaders Volume 14 #4, October-December
2003 Pathways of Introduction of Invasive Species WI Sea Grant - Research Reprints Hansen, MJ and ME Holey. 2002. Ecological Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Chinook and Coho Salmon Populations in the Great Lakes, Especially Lake Michigan. In Sustaining North American Salmon: Perspectives Across Regions and Disciplines. KD Lynch, ML Jones and WW Taylor eds. Chapter 8, pp. 155-179. WISCU-R-02-015. Cook, PM, JA Robbins, DD Endicott, KB Lodge, PD Guiney, MK Walker, EW Zabel, and RE Peterson. 2003. Effects of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Early Life Stage Toxicity on Lake Trout Populations in Lake Ontario During the 20th Century. Environmental Science and Technology, 37(17)3864-3877. WISCU-R-03-005.
The Marine Environmental Education Foundation (MEEF) named its 2003-2004 Board of Directors at their 2003 annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. "We are pleased to add a number of new members to the Board who bring a wide range of experiences in the education and environmental field," said Dave White, Chairman of the MEEF Board of Directors. He continued, "we've added representation from a number of other organizations that share MEEF's mission and goals in an effort to build synergistic programming." New Board members include Genevieve Boehm, NJ Department of Transportation; Margaret Podlich, BoatUS; and Bruce Berman, Boston Save the Bay. Melissa Denko, Executive Director of the NJ Marine Trade Association joins the Executive Committee as Secretary. The other Officers were re-elected and include: David White of NY Sea Grant, Chairman; Larry Innis of the National Safe Boating Council, Vice-Chair; Grant Westerson of the CT Marine Trades, Treasurer. Other members of the Board include: Susan Altman, West Marine; Nancy Bodick, American Boat Builders and Repairers Association; Jim Frye, National Marine Manufactures Association; Phil Keeter, Marine Retailers Association of America; Alex Laidlaw, Marine Operators Association of America; Steve Lewis, States Organization for Boating Access; Ken Lovell, Boating Trades Association of Metropolitan Houston; Pat Pearson, Washington State University Extension System; Dave Staudt, Allied Printing; Andy Talento, National Marine Trades Council; and, Tim Timpson, International Marina Institute. Founded in 1994, MEEF has evolved as a national consortium of marine industry associations, marine businesses, academia, government agencies and environmental groups that have come together to promote clean water through education and experience. By bringing together national specialists, MEEF is able to develop educational programs and research on marine environmental issues. MEEF is devoted to programs that result in greater awareness of marine environmental issues and regulations. |
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November 19, 2003Contents 1. WI Sea Grant - Toxic Chemicals Killed all Young Lake Trout
in Lake Ontario for 40 Years Press Release The findings also suggest chemical contaminants may have complicated efforts by the United States and Canada to restore healthy populations of lake trout across the Great Lakes basin, according to Philip Cook, a research chemist and environmental toxicologist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Duluth, Minn., and lead author of the study. The research results also show the importance and the feasibility of investigating possible harmful effects of other contaminants that haven't been studied well, Cook said. The research was published in the September issue of the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The report details results from a 15-year collaboration among a team of toxicologists, chemists, chemical and environmental engineers, and sediment dating experts. In one part of the work, a group of researchers led by toxicologist Richard Peterson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that, in their early life stages, lake trout are among the most sensitive fish to dioxin (specifically, 2,3,7,8-TCDD), PCBs and similar chemicals. At concentrations as low as 30 parts per trillion dioxin in egg tissues, the percentage of newly hatched fish that die exceeds normal percentages. The mortality rate increases as concentrations of dioxin in egg tissues rise above 30 ppt. "Thirty parts per trillion is an extremely small concentration, approximately equal to one drop in 500,000 gallons of water," said Peterson, who directed the UW-Madison component of the study with support from the UW Sea Grant Institute. Dioxin, PCBs and similar chemicals pass from water and sediments into small plants and animals near the bottom of aquatic food webs. Because they are retained in tissues, they accumulate as they are passed to higher levels of food webs. Animals near the tops of food webs, like lake trout, generally have the highest concentrations of such chemicals in their body tissues, Peterson said. In their component of the study, Cook and his colleagues measured dioxin and other chemicals in samples of sediments, herring gulls, adult lake trout, other fish species and lake trout eggs from Lake Ontario. They used mathematical models to estimate from these measurements the concentrations in lake trout egg tissues between 1920 and 1990. The researchers conclude that dioxin levels in lake trout eggs reached the 30 ppt mortality threshold in the early 1940s. By the late 1940s, concentrations reached 100 ppt. At that concentration, 100 percent of juvenile trout can be expected to die, the authors reported. Concentrations remained at or above these levels until about 1976, by which time environmental regulations had sufficiently reduced toxic contamination levels to again allow some egg survival, according to the study. By 1982, egg concentrations had dropped to the point that no measurable direct mortality from dioxin was expected. "That's the good news of the study," Cook said. "It shows that pollution regulations can really be effective." Cook points out, however, that researchers know much less about so-called "sub-lethal" effects of contaminants on lake trout, doses that do not kill the fish in laboratory tests but do impair critical functions like vision or swim bladder inflation. "In natural environments, these low levels of contaminants could impair the recovery of lake trout populations," Cook said. "Young fish may not be able to flee from predators or find food, and that could be happening out there today in the Great Lakes. We don't know for sure about that - we're in a grey area with these low levels." The work is an "elegant piece of science" that drew upon multiple sources of evidence to support its conclusions, according to Donald Tillitt, an environmental toxicologist in the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in Colombia, Mo. "It allows us to quantitatively look at the effects of these chemicals [on lake trout]," Tillitt said. "It's a very significant piece of research." "It's one of the nicest case studies that have been done," agreed Scott Brown, an environmental toxicologist at Environment Canada's National Water Research Institute in Burlington, Ontario. 2. MN Sea Grant - 2003-2005 Program Guide
3. MI Sea Grant - Michigan's Charter Fishing Industry Bounces
Back :Greater Revenues, Larger Boats But Fewer Captains "The Great Lakes sport fishery has rebounded from its low point in the early 1990s when disease was rampant in salmonids," says Chuck Pistis, Sea Grant Extension agent and co-author of the report. "The economic investments in and contributions of the charter fishing industry mirror the recovery in the Great Lakes fishery during that time." Pistis says that charter fishing clients also contributed significantly to the economies of Michigan's coastal communities in 2002, spending an estimated $19.8 million on food, lodging and other local purchases in Michigan's Great Lakes ports. Nineteen percent of the captains responding to the survey rely on charter fishing as their primary livelihood, up from 13 percent in 1994, and 52 percent rated it as a secondary source of income in 2002, down from 66.5 percent in 1994. Almost 60 percent of captains plan to increase the number of trips they make over the next five years, but 18 percent plan to quit the business during that time. Responding captains indicated that the most important concerns facing their industry are the economy, the impacts of exotic species, boating equipment/operating costs and the lack of fish/reduced fish abundance. The Michigan industry compares well with those in other Great Lakes states. Michigan generated almost 30 percent of the total $34.5 million charter fishing revenue in the U.S. Great Lakes region, and the value of its charter boats and equipment was $49.1 million, almost 28 percent of the $178 million regional total. The average boat is longer by 1 foot than the average in 1994. The state's charter fishing fleet of 468 operations is the second largest in the Great Lakes to Ohio's 794, followed by New York (305), Wisconsin (258), Illinois/Indiana (64), Minnesota (44) and Pennsylvania (28). "The survey is a great asset to all charter boat captains
and the ports that they work out of," said Frank English, president
of the Michigan Charter Boat Association. "The information
is invaluable." The complete report, Michigan's Great
Lakes Charter Fishing Industry in 2002, is available on the Michigan
Sea Grant Web site at 4. MN Sea Grant - Graduate Research Advances Lake Superior Science
The University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program is providing more than $527,000 over the next two years to fund research by graduate students. The ten students are investigating subjects related to Lake Superior and Minnesota's inland lakes under the supervision of University of Minnesota faculty. The graduate funding is over and above the $678,500 that Sea Grant awarded for research projects last March. The projects employing the graduate students involve such topics as lake trout populations and habitats, water pollution, new water monitoring technologies, aquatic invasive species, and Lake Superior's ecosystem. Paige Novak, assistant professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Civil Engineering and recipient of Sea Grant research monies, is supporting two graduate students with funding associated with her grant. "Two master's degree candidates, who came to the graduate program with partial fellowships from other sources, are now conducting laboratory investigations that will contribute to our understanding of how microorganisms might accelerate the breakdown of PCBs in Great Lakes." One of Sea Grant's new graduate research assistants came from the Black Forest area of Germany in his pursuit of a master's degree. Winfried Ksoll is studying water resources science at the University of Minnesota Duluth and investigating whether the fecal indicator, E. coli, might survive and possibly grow in aquatic environments like the sediments of Lake Superior. In addition to conducting cutting-edge research, Sea Grant-supported graduates are expected to communicate the importance of their work to the public. This requirement emphasizes the importance of making science relevant and accessible. 5. New York Sea Grant - Strategies Report for Hooking More Anglers Excerpt from Press Release New York Sea Grant has released a new Sportfishing Fact Sheet and a report suggesting "Strategies for Increasing Sportfishing Participation in New York's Great Lakes Region." Sea Grant and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry conducted a two-year study to identify the factors influencing angling participation in three life stages groups: children, adolescents and adults. After analyzing survey and interview data from anglers, Coastal Tourism Specialist Diane Kuehn (who is also an Assistant Professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse) organized two focus groups comprised of anglers, coastal business owners, and government agency staff that worked together to identify forty-four different options for increasing angling participation. Highlights of the Sportfishing Fact Sheet and Strategies for Increasing Sportfishing Participation report include:
Sportfishing: A study of gender and life stage along New York's
eastern Lake Ontario coast and the Strategies report are online
at 6. IL-IN Sea Grant - ANS Web Page Links to the Latest Resources If you happen on a new aquatic nuisance species (ANS) or an invasive
species in new waters, reporting the details to the State of Illinois
is now as easy as going online. The newly-remodeled Illinois Aquatic
Nuisance Species Program Web site provides this feature, as well
as information on State ANS laws, the State management plan, and
the latest on hot topics such as the threat of Asian carp. "With
links to a number of other Web pages, the site is a gateway to ANS
information resources," said Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana
Sea Grant biological resources specialist. "In addition to
learning what you can do to prevent the spread of invasive species,
you can read about what the State of Illinois is doing to address
this issue." Visitors to the new Web page can click on "Illinois
ANS Activities" and learn about: the Purple Loosestrife Project,
in which students and 4-H youth raise and release beetles to control
this wetland plant; the electric barrier, an effort to keep invasive
fish from flowing between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River
Basins; and the latest ANS research efforts, including a Sea Grant
project assessing the impact of Asian carp. The management program
has also developed an online reporting system for aquatic nuisance
species sightings. "These notifications help us track the introduction
and spread of ANS, and provide information necessary for management
decisions," said Charlebois. "All data are entered into
a state-wide database." The Web page also provides the opportunity
to read ANS updates or sign up to have them emailed directly to
you. These updates include recent significant sightings of invasive
species, new ordinances, plus details on management and research
projects. This Web page was developed through Illinois-Indiana Sea
Grant, the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
Web address is 7. Publications MI Sea Grant - Upwellings October 2003 - Online at:
OH Sea Grant - Gales of November 8. Tidbits PA Sea Grant - Botulism Listserv |
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October 16, 2003Contents 1. Meeting Announcements Please join UM's School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) Alumni, Great Lakes Theme group members and others interested in Great Lakes issues, in celebrating the School's 100th Anniversary. Claire Schelske will deliver a presentation entitled: "Cultural Eutrophication in the Great Lakes: A changing paradigm about causes and consequences of low-level phosphorus enrichment." Dr. Schelske, formerly of the University of Michigan's Great Lakes Research Division, is the past-President of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Dr. Ed Rutherford, SNRE Great Lakes Theme Leader, will discuss "Past, Present and Future Great Lakes Activities in SNRE, including the Great Lakes Theme." The panel will also feature several graduate students -- our Great Lakes leaders of tomorrow! OH Sea Grant - The Adaptive Research and Governance in Climate
Change 2. WI Sea Grant - Announcing the New Aquatic Sciences Center 3. Research Programs
UW Sea Grant - Directory of Projects 2002-2004 Available
MI Sea Grant - 2003-2005 Project Summaries OnLine
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4. Research Abstracts Almost 30 percent of beachgoers surveyed by the researchers were engaged in multiple-day trips-spending an average of $381.98 during their stay compared to $27.53 for the single-day visitor. Beach advisories can result in cancelled trips or reduced visitation to an area. The study showed that a multiple-day visitor would be willing to pay between $6.93 and $7.39 per trip to eliminate one beach advisory, and that single-day visitors would be willing to pay approximately $2.06 per trip. CONTACT: Brent Sohngen: phone 614-688-4640, e-mail sohngen.1@osu.edu. OH Sea Grant - Study Finds Nitrates and Sunlight Keys To
Pesticide Degradation In Lake Erie's Coastal Wetlands While some contaminants have been found to degrade by directly reacting with sunlight (direct photolysis), there are many that cannot. Dr. Chin's team investigated the use of indirect photolysis, the process by which contaminants can degrade in the presence of a photosensitizer. "Because many compounds do not have the chemical structure to absorb light, they need a catalyst or photosensitizer to absorb the sunlight," stated Chin. When that photosensitizer takes up the sunlight, the energy is trapped and transferred to neighboring molecules to create reactive chemical radicals. These highly reactive chemicals react with and transform ASOCs to form other compounds Dr. Chin's team investigated the role of natural dissolved organic matter (NDOM) and nitrates as potential photosensitizers in wetlands. To test whether nitrates and/or NDOM can influence the indirect photolytic fate of ASOCs in wetlands, Chin conducted his research at Old Woman Creek Estuarine Research Reserve, a 30-hectare wetland located on the south shore of Lake Erie. Water samples were taken from the inlet, the interior, and the outlet of the wetland. Samples were collected in June when spring runoff occurs (shortly after fertilizers are applied), in August and September of 1998 (where fertilizer loads are presumably lower). Chin found that nitrate is a naturally occurring photosensitizer that degrades pesticides in the Lake Erie wetland. When spring runoff occurred and nitrates were high in the water samples, the speed of the reaction was high. When nitrate levels were low, the speed of the pesticide degradation slowed. NDOM was also found to play an important role in pesticide degradation in wetlands. When samples contained low amounts of nitrate as in the August and September samples, NDOM became the principal photosensitizer, and can account for up to 73 percent of the degradation. As the Lake Erie region continues to be a dominant resource for agriculture, resource managers will need to find a cost efficient solution to its growing nonpoint source pollution problem. Chin says using its coastal wetlands may be a way to battle the problem. "The preservation of existing and the construction of new coastal wetlands around Lake Erie may provide a means of management needed for our nonpoint source problem. Understanding the photochemical mechanisms that control the changes of ASOCs is key to determining their effectiveness as natural "photochemical reactors" and ultimately whether wetlands can be used to remediate runoff prior to entering the Great Lakes," emphasizes Chin. Dr. Chin plans to continue his research, examining pesticide degradation by sunlight as a function of depth in the water column, along with identifying the final degradation products resulting from his indirect photolysis experiments. 5. Tidbits "Dead Zone" at Lake Erie Nature and Science Center 6. Media Reports The Duluth News-Tribune reports that the infestation of exotic zebra mussels is becoming a costly problem, financially and environmentally. The first infestation of exotic zebra mussels in a northern Minnesota inland waterway has been confirmed at Lake Ossawinnamakee in Crow Wing County. The outbreak was confirmed last week and reported Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. During a followup inspection, DNR staff also found mussels in cracks of rocks, along contours of a minnow bucket and other tight areas of boat lifts and docks -- from the shoreline to 18 feet deep. Both Jeff Gunderson (Minnesota Sea Grant) and Carol Swinehart (Michigan Sea Grant) are quoted, as well as Orlando Sarnelle, a Michigan State University Professor. Sarnelle recently completed a research project focusing on zebra mussels and their effect on freshwater ecosystems, funded by Michigan Sea Grant. 7. Publications OH Sea Grant - TwineLine - September-OctoberResearch
PA Sea Grant - Keystone Shorelines - Summer 2003
8. Staff News Glenn Kreag, tourism and recreation extension educator, has retired after 17 years with Minnesota Sea Grant. He also worked 11 years as an extension tourism specialist for the University of Kentucky and three years as a community development agent for Colorado State University. Glenn has provided tourism education for communities and organizations throughout Northeastern Minnesota and been involved in research related several North Shore issues. He helped organize the North Shore Charter Captains and worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on various projects and proposals including feasibility studies of an underwater park at Split Rock State Park, economic analysis of the North Shore Snowmobile Trail and most recently residents' perceptions about cross-country skiers and snowmobilers (see article on page 1). Another recent study of how Duluth residents value open space contributed to long-range plans for city green space. Glenn was also one of the original extension faculty members of the University of Minnesota Tourism Center and was involved in creating the endowed chair for that program. He was instrumental in developing a number of programs including early versions of "At Your Service" customer service training, the Rural Tourism Development program, and the Certified Festival Management program. He facilitated the organization of two tourism trade organizations: the Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Guild and the Minnesota Festivals and Events Association. He recently assisted in the organization of the Northland Sustainable Business Alliance. Glenn has authored over 75 publications and articles about tourism and natural resources throughout his career. He was one of the primary authors for the award-winning Rural Tourism Development Program. In addition to Sea Grant activities, Glenn completed short-term overseas assignments in Ghana, (coastal tourism development) Tanzania, (tourism database creation), Slovakia, (ecotourism and farm tourism) and Russia (tourism business development and tourism association marketing). A recent study leave in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia provided him with insights on how sustainable tourism and sustainable natural resource policies are successfully implemented in different countries at various governmental levels. MN Sea Grant - New Web/Graphic Designer OH Sea Grant - Weavers Receives AAUW Recognition Award PA Sea Grant - Growing Greener MN Sea Grant - Hagley promoted MN Sea Grant - Water on the Web |
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September 2003Contents: 1. Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute Sea Grant programs across the Great Lakes Basin are pooling efforts to train the next generation of fisheries leaders. The Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute is funded by 2 grants from the National Sea Grant program (for curriculum development and conducting the pilot institute sessions) at a total of $315,000 (not including matching funds). The goal of the Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute is to provide the next generation of fisheries leaders for the Great Lakes region with the skills that they will need to effectively interact with fisheries management agencies and provide real leadership to the region as well as to their organizations. The Institute takes a broad view of fisheries leadership. Participants
from a broad variety of stakeholder groups are included: commercial,
charter and recreational anglers; fishing and other recreational
associations; scuba enthusists; educators; outdoor writers; tourism
bureaus and a variety of NGOs. The Institute is offering training
sessions at both the state and lake levels - state level sessions
focus on issues of interest by to the state -- including issues
like public access, how to work with the state legislature and fishing
regulations -- while the lake sessions focus on issues of interest
at that level -- aquatic biology, aquatic nuisance species and interacting
with lake committees. IL-IN kicked off the Institute with a July
session at Indiana Dunes, OH and Pennsylvania have also recently
hosted state sessions. The first Lake Huron session took place September
26 and 27; Lake Michigan and Lake Erie sessions are scheduled October
3-5. Additional sessions are scheduled throughout the fall and into
January. For more information see: 2. International Coastal Cleanup The coastal cleanup goes from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you would like more information about the Washington Park coastal cleanup, contact Sea Grant's site captain, Leslie Dorworth at (219)989-2726 or dorworth@calumet.purdue.edu. For information about other Indiana cleanup sites, contact the Grand Calumet Task Force at (219)473-4246. To find out about coastal cleanup plans in Illinois, contact Christina Forst at the Lake Michigan Federation at (312) 939-0838 x 321 or cforst@lakemichigan.org. PA Sea Grant MN Sea Grant 3. IL-IN Sea Grant - Governor's Conference to Consider Illinois River Issues Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is one of many federal, state, regional and local agencies and groups working together to co-sponsor the ninth biennial Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System, to be held October 7-9, 2003 at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria. The conference is designed to bring together concerned citizens, agricultural, conservation and environmental organizations, industry and government representatives, educators and resource management professionals to focus on the future of the river. The conference theme is "The Illinois River: Sharing the Vision" and it will include presentations on environment and ecology, economic development, recreation and tourism, water quality and sedimentation, as well as exhibits from many organizations and agencies, including a Sea Grant exhibit on Great Lakes research. This exhibit provides the latest research on the invasive species barrier and Asian carp, as well as information on other non-native and native aquatic species in the region. An all-day conservation tour on October 7 will include a guided motorcoach tour of rural and urban sites in Peoria and Tazewell counties. The tour will focus on restoration of native habitats, forest management, municipal wastewater treatment, brownfield redevelopment, backwater lake restoration and lock and dam operations. Other conference highlights include keynote speaker Lt. General Robert B. Flowers, Commander and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers speaking about "The Future of the Nation's Waterways," and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, who chairs the Illinois River Coordinating Council, moderating a free evening session that will be open for public discussion. Registration for the conference costs $120, which includes six meals and a copy of the proceedings. Daily rates are $80 for Wednesday and $70 for Thursday. The conservation tour is an additional $15, which includes lunch. Registrations submitted after September 19 will incur a $20 late fee. For more information or a registration form, contact the Heartland water Resources Council at 416 Main St., #828, Peoria, IL 61602-1116; phone 309-637-5253; or email hwrc@mtco.com. 4. IL-IN Sea Grant - ID Invasive Asian Carp With the New Watch
Card Bighead and silver carp pose an urgent threat to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, but would you know these Asian carp if you saw one? Armed with a Bighead and Silver Carp Watch Card, you might be able to identify these invasive species, and if you catch one, know what to do about it. Small in size but chock full of information, the ID card provides general characteristics of bighead and silver carp, including both photographs and drawings. In addition, you can read the history and potential impact of Asian carp in U.S. waters, plus critical information about how to prevent the spread of these and other invasive species. Bighead and silver carp have been moving up the Illinois River towards the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal where an electric barrier stands between them and Lake Michigan. These invasive fishes may also move from the Illinois River to the Fox or Kankakee Rivers. To test the effectiveness of the barrier, researchers have been tagging and monitoring common carp in the area to see whether the fish pass through the electric field. "In terms of keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes, a single barrier, unfortunately, is not likely to be foolproof," said Charlebois. "Plans for a second barrier are underway and long-term solutions are being discussed." If you think you've caught an Asian carp, it's important to report this to the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program in Zion, IL (847-872-8677), the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Topeka, IL (309-968-7531) or the Indiana DNR, Division of Fish and Wildlife in Indianapolis, IN (317-232-4093). Note the exact location and if possible, freeze the specimen in a sealed plastic bag. If you catch a common carp that has been tagged, please notify John Dettmers at 847-872-8679. His address is Lake Michigan Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, 400 17th Street, Zion, Illinois 60099. It's important to include the time, day and location where any tagged common carp were caught. The Asian Carp Watch Card has been developed by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network. To order a free watch card, contact Susan White at 217-333-9441. To order a pack of 100, which costs $7.00, call Cyndi Moore at the University of Illinois Publications at 1-800-345-6087 or email cjmoore@uiuc.edu. You can also find the Asian carp watch card on the Sea Grant Web site at www.iisgcp.org/pubs/br/index.html (link now dated). 5. PA Sea Grant - Fish Tumor Conference PA Sea Grant is currently developing a white paper describing the conference recommendations for evaluating the Fish Tumor or Other Deformities beneficial use impairment, which will be presented to the International Joint Commission at its September 18, 2003 meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 6. Publications MI Sea Grant - The Life of The Lakes WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio:
WI Sea Grant - Reprints email Linda@seagrant.wisc.edu to order
7. Staff News PA Sea Grant - Dave Skellie, Coastal Land Use and Economic Specialist Dave began his tenure with Pennsylvania Sea Grant on September 2, 2003. He was previously employed by the County of Erie, PA as Director of the Department of Planning, overseeing an office of 13 employees with a budget of over $5 million dollars. Through his 28 years of work, the county became a leader on issues pertaining to sustainable development activities, including such fields as comprehensive planning and land-use regulation preparation transportation planning, farmland preservation, revitalization/rehabilitation of infrastructure and housing in low-to-moderate income areas, GIS mapping, solid waste planning, and the promotion of recycling activities. For Sea Grant, David provides a leadership role for Lake Erie watershed land-use programming and outreach activities, including habitat restoration, wetlands protection and management, liaison with watershed organizations, Seaway Trail implementation, sustainable coastal development, nonpoint source pollution education, and land preservation. He also serves as liaison to the Pennsylvania Coastal Management Program, procures and manages related grants, and provides outreach regarding Sea Grant to local, state and federal legislators. David serves on a number of boards and committees: · Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee PA Sea Grant - Sean Rafferty, Coastal Outreach Specialist Sean received his B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College in December 2002. Sean served as a student assistant with Pennsylvania Sea Grant for 12 months, during which time he developed an Identification Guide to the Invertebrates of Presque Isle Bay, assisted with various environmental educational programs, and gained experience in the various techniques of environmental monitoring. Following graduation, Sean served as a part-time employee with Sea Grant, assisting in the Presque Isle Bay fish tumor monitoring program and in the development of the Fish Tumors Related to Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference proceedings. As of July 2003, Sean serves as Coastal Outreach Specialist for Pennsylvania Sea Grant. His duties include: · conducting and facilitating ecological studies related
to the coastal areas and tributaries of Lake Erie, including the
use of specialized equipment and oversight of technicians and student
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August 2003Contents 1. PA Sea Grant - Second Fish Tumor Conference Related to Great
Lakes Areas of Concern On August 18-19, 2003 Pennsylvania Sea Grant hosted a second conference related to fish tumors and deformities in Great Lakes Areas of Concern(AOC). This is a follow up to the January 2003 fish tumor conference held in Erie, PA. Both were co-sponsored by USEPA GLNPO & Pennsylvania Sea Grant. The purpose of the second conference is to refine and coordinate the standardization of protocols developed by the fish tumor taskforce subcommittees that were formed at the first conference. Proceedings from the first conference can be down loaded from Pennsylvania
Sea Grant's Web site A presentation of criteria recommendations will be made to the International Joint Commission by Dr. Paul Baumann (USGS Ohio State) in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 18th. 2. MN Sea Grant - 2 Exotic Species Programs Funded Minnesota Sea Grant was awarded $286,200 from the National Sea Grant College Program for two new aquatic invasive species (AIS) projects, each spanning two years. Barbara Liukkonen, water resources education coordinator, and Douglas Jensen, AIS Information Center coordinator, received a $152,860 grant from the National Sea Grant College Program for Preventing New Introductions of Invasive Aquatic Plants from Water Gardening and Shoreline Restoration. The project, in collaboration with Michigan Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will involve state agency staff, nursery and landscaping industry representatives, water gardening enthusiasts, and shoreline property owners in developing an educational model to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants. Jensen and Marie Zhuikov, communications coordinator, received $133,349 for A National Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Outreach Campaign for the Aquarium Industry and Hobbyist Consumers. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Pet Industry Joint Council, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network to prevent the accidental spread of AIS by aquarium hobbyists. 3. MN Sea Grant - Health Risks Found at MN Superfund Site A report recently completed by the University of Minnesota confirms concerns by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe that a federal Superfund site located along Pike Bay in Cass Lake, Minn., is not being properly remediated. Studies completed in the process of preparing the report found that both human and environmental health risks exist at the site, where a former wood preserving facility owned by St. Regis Corp. (now International Paper Co.) used to operate. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe suspected that the site was never properly studied and that clean-up actions by St. Regis Corp. were not effective. The three-part report encompasses panel reports on groundwater conditions on the site, environmental health risks, and human health risks. Testing on the site found harmful levels of dioxins, furans, and other compounds left behind from treating wood. These chemicals are known cancer-causers. The groundwater panel recommended further investigations assessing groundwater contaminant flow patterns in order to protect nearby ground and surface waters. The human health risk panel urged that steps be taken to minimize exposure of children to the site. The high levels of dioxins and furans warrant closure of the area. Because tribal members have unique cultural practices and lifestyles, the panel recommended that a customized human health risk assessment be performed. The ecological risk panel concluded monitoring at the site was inadequate to determine ecological impacts and that more monitoring is needed. The project was a collaboration between the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, the Natural Resources Research Institute, and the Leech Lake Tribal Council. It was funded by a grant in 1998 from the U.S. EPA's Environmental Justice Program. The report is available on Minnesota Sea Grant's Web site at: www.seagrant.umn.edu/water/leech.html (link now dated). 4. MI Sea Grant - Study Shows Serious Coastal Growth Pressure
and Planning Gaps Significant improvements in land use planning along Michigans shorelines have occurred over the past several years, but serious gaps remain, according to a Michigan Sea Grant study. Suburban sprawl and most other issues identified in the Michigan Land Use Leadership Councils final report, released August 18, are even worse for coastal communities. "What happens on the land is a major factor in determining whether individual components of this complex system [the Great Lakes] will remain healthy," the councils report states. The Sea Grant report, Status of Planning and Zoning in Michigans Great Lakes Shoreline Communities, revealed the following problems:
A 2002 Sea Grant survey of all 338 political divisions identified several reasons for the problems:
"If these trends continue, unplanned development will cause long-term cumulative problems for coastal ecosystems and regional economies," says Mike Klepinger, Extension specialist for sustainable coastal community development and author of the Sea Grant report. "In the long run, coastal development will not be sustainable unless land use planning is improved in and between Michigans coastal communities. The study noted progress in the following areas:
The Sea Grant report, including analyses for five coastal regions, is available online at www.michiganlanduse.org/resources/coastal_pz_status_20021.pdf (link now dated). To obtain a printed copy, request MICHU #03-600 from Michigan Sea Grant Publications at (734) 764-1118 or msgpubs@umich.edu. 5. NY Sea Grant - Lake Guardian course Late last month, middle and high school teachers, graduate students, and nature center educators enjoyed a rare learning opportunity on Lakes Ontario and Erie while aboard the 180-foot-long federal research vessel Lake Guardian. The week-long educational tour, valued at $70,000, garnered write-ups in the Watertown Daily Times, Palladium Times, and Syracuse Post Standard, as well as news segments by local television and NPR radio stations. "The Lake Guardian course was a rewarding experience for me, both professionally and personally," says NYSG's Coastal Education Specialist Helen Domske, who led the training program along with Niagara U faculty. The trip was made possible by a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Niagara University, the Niagara Environmental Leadership Institute, and New York Sea Grant. The course was also a success thanks in part to the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Lower GL Resources Office and the Great Lakes Program at the University at Buffalo. Domske, who has more than 20 years experience as an aquatic science educator, offers teacher training every summer. Four years ago, she had an opportunity to teach aboard the R/V Lake Guardian on Lake Erie. On renewing her experience on Lake Ontario in July, she says, "The chance to work on a top-notch research vessel again and share those opportunities with students and teachers was wonderful. To experience the size, power and beauty of Lake Ontario from aboard this ship was overwhelming." Learning aboard the Lake Guardian gave the teachers and students the hands-on experiences of seining (net collecting) and scientifically aging fish, as well as collecting plankton, lake bottom and water samples. The group also traveled by van to the Black Pond Wildlife Management Area along Lake Ontario's eastern shoreline for a program on dune ecology and to the nearby Salmon River Fish Hatchery. For more information on this event and other New York Sea Grant activities, visit www.nyseagrant.org (link now dated). 6. Publications
OH Sea Grant - Twine Line - May/June http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/pdfs/tl-mj-03.pdf (link now dated)
OH Sea Grant - Twine Line - July/August
IL-IN Sea Grant - The Helm Summer 03
WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio Earthwatch Radio programs for this week are now available online
at:
7. Staff News MI Sea Grant - Position Announcements MI Sea Grant - McKinney Address IL-IN Sea Grant - Phil Mankin joins IL-IN as Research Coordinator IL--IN Sea Grant - Kate Beardsley at GLNPO IL-IN Sea Grant - Aquaculture Extension IL-IN Sea Grant - Dr. Brian Miller MN Sea Grant - Seiche Receives Bronze Award OH Sea Grant - Awards from Outdoor Writers of Ohio and APEX Entering the Zone, an article about Lake Erie's dead zone,
recently won an APEX Award of Excellence as part of the 15th Annual
Awards for Publication Excellence sponsored by Communications Concepts.
The article, written by Ohio Sea Grant staff members Jeffrey Reutter,
David Kelch, Jill Jentes Banicki, and Frank Lichtkoppler, was one
of 63 awards in the "Feature Writing" category. It appeared
in the September/October 2002 issue of Twine Line. Download at |
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July 2003Contents 1. WI Sea Grant - Experts to Examine Status of Perch Fisheries
Worldwide Percis III will feature poster sessions and seminars on the status of Lake Michigan's yellow perch fishery, management options, and the aquaculture potential of the popular food fish. Drastic reductions in the yellow perch population in Lake Michigan have demonstrated the need for more information and improved management of the fishery. Recent research has addressed life-history dynamics, overfishing, predator-prey dyanamics, and the impact of such environmental stressors as global climate change on the yellow perch and the European perch, perca fluviatilis. The management session will largely focus on walleye and darters, as well as the impact of exotic species, such as round goby and ruffe, on the native fishery. Darters, a small, bony freshwater fish, which are closely related to perch, are known as a "sentinel species" because they indicate the overall health of an ecosystem. "When a system is perturbed or threatened, darters often disappear," Malison said. The conference will feature a symposium on the ecology and evolutionary biology of darters, which will include topics such as biogeography, hybridization, life-history and conservation biology of these vividly colored fish. As the populations of important food fisheries dwindle, many countries are investing more resources in aquaculture. One special session at the convention will be dedicated to recent breakthroughs in percid aquaculture and will highlight such topics as feeds and feeding strategies, pond fertilization techniques, optimal culture conditions, stress and growth, disease prevention, and commercialization success stories. "Yellow perch aquaculture has a lot of potential," Malison said, "and the synthesis of this international group is important to solving the key problems that are constraining the growth of this industry." The meeting is sponsored by the UW Sea Grant College Program, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, North Central Regional Aquaculture Center, University of Minnesota Sea Grant College Program, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and the UW-Madison Aquaculture Program. For a complete schedule, visit www.seagrant.wisc.edu/outreach/aquaculture/aqua_percis.asp (link now dated). 2. Michigan Clean Marina Program Created The Michigan Clean Marinas program has officially begun with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA), Michigan Sea Grant College, and the DEQ. In support of the program, the DEQ's Environmental Science and Services Division received a grant from the Michigan Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a guidebook on marinas' best management practices and buffer zone development. This voluntary program was initiated to preserve and protect Michigan's Great Lakes and its connecting waterways. The program is designed to protect the environment and save the state and marinas money. "It is prudent for the state to look for opportunities to create cost effective solutions to help area businesses and to protect our environment," said Chuck Pistis, Michigan Sea Grant Agent. 3. NY Sea Grant - Clean Boating Program New York Sea Grant has partnered with four business owners, a marine products manufacturer, the Boating Industries Association of Central New York and the Western New York Marine Trade Association to distribute free goods and information to boaters on Lake Ontario, Oneida and Skaneateles Lakes, and the Niagara River. The objective is to promote clean boating. We have made more than 2,700 clean and safe boating bags filled with environmentally-sound boating products and clean and safe boating information available to four marinas on four different waters as part of a pilot project, says David White, New York Sea Grant¹s Great Lakes Program Coordinator and National Chair of the Marine Environmental Education Foundation (MEEF). The clean boating bags include an oil absorbent bilge sock and a fuel nozzle bib manufactured by Anchor Environmental of Ohio, a New York State Boating Guide, a list of pumpout stations and other boating information. Giving boaters a free product to keep their bilges clean helps make them aware of an easy way they can keep the waters clean. The free information packaged with the sock makes boaters more aware of safety requirements and other clean boating practices. Distributing the bags is a positive way for us to help our boaters have a more pleasurable and safe day on the water, says John Jablonski, co-owner of Skaneateles Sailboat Shop. We specifically selected marinas with different types of boats on four different waters to test boaters¹ response, says White. We will assess the project's effectiveness in the fall. Based on early reaction, we anticipate a positive response that will suggest we expand the project for 2004. For more information on New York Sea Grant¹s clean and safe boating project, contact Dave White, Great Lakes Program Coordinator, New York Sea Grant, SUNY-Oswego, 62B Mackin Hall, Oswego, NY 13126, 315-312-3042, SGOswego@cornell.edu; www.nysgextension.org (link now dated). 4. WI Sea Grant - Feasibility of White Perch Fishery in Green
Bay Assessed Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are working with several commercial fishing operations in Green Bay this summer to assess the feasibility of a commercial white perch fishery - a possibility previously precluded by the fish's PCB levels. The study is testing a range of gill net mesh sizes to determine whether a size exists that will catch white perch but exclude yellow perch, according to Phil Moy, UW Sea Grant fisheries specialist. UW Sea Grant is supporting a part-time position for a person to ride with commercial fishers and record the results as they test various mesh sizes. "There are an abundance of white perch in Green Bay," said Bill Horns, Great Lakes fisheries specialist at the WDNR. "If they could be harvested commercially, without adverse effects on other species, we'd like to do that." White perch, which are closely related to white bass, have been identified as a possible factor in the continued low numbers of yellow perch in the bay, due to direct predation and competition for food and habitat. White perch were first noticed in Green Bay in 1998. Until recently, a commercial fishery for white perch has not been feasible because their PCBs levels have exceeded the 2.0 parts per million (ppm) limit set by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for the sale of commercial fish, Horns said. However, a recent DNR study found PCB concentrations in most white perch in Green Bay had dropped below the 2.0 ppm limit, opening the possibility of a commercial harvest. Many commercial fishers believe that establishing a white perch fishery could help yellow perch recover from their low numbers and, at the same time, offset the loss of income they suffered last year when quotas for yellow perch were slashed from 200,000 pounds per year to 20,000 pounds per year. This summer's experiment, however, is not aimed at establishing a program to rid Green Bay of all white perch, Horns noted. "We don't think that's realistic," he said. Yellow perch once supported a significant commercial fishery in the bay, but their numbers plummeted in the 1990's, and they remain low today. 5. IL-IN Sea Grant - Reel in the Latest Fish Consumption Advisories "Fish are a great source for protein and minerals; they are also low in saturated fat and can be a source of omega-3 fatty acids--essential for good health, but in a number of water bodies in Illinois and Indiana, fish can be contaminated with pollutants. Exposure to low levels of these contaminants may have long lasting health effects," said Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic ecology specialist. A fish consumption advisory will tell you which contaminants are of concern for a particular water body, along with whether available fish species pose a risk depending on their sizes. These recommendations are based primarily on protecting women of childbearing age, pregnant women, fetuses, nursing mothers and children younger than 15 years of age. "You can still get the benefits of eating fish by choosing safer types of fish and safer ways to prepare fish; and by carefully choosing how often you eat fish," said Dorworth. Always remember to eat a variety of fish, keeping the following in mind: fatty fish tend to accumulate PCBs; fish that eat other fish, such as largemouth bass, also build up contaminants; larger and older fish tend to build up contaminants in their bodies; and fish that feed along the water's bottom ingest more contaminants than those swimming in the water column. For easy online access to fish advisories in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, go to the Sea Grant Web page at www.iisgcp.org. If you would like a copy of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant's latest pamphlet on fish advisories titled "Contaminants in Fish & Seafood: A Guide to Safe Consumption" contact Susan White at (217) 333-9441 or email white2@uiuc.edu. 6. NY Sea Grant - Lake Level Headed for Above Average Summer
in 2003; New York Sea Grant Looks at Historic Averages Above average precipitation in the Great Lakes Basin since early March, particularly on the lower Great Lakes, has caused the level of Lake Ontario to rise more than thirty-two inches since March 15th, about nineteen inches more than the "normal" seasonal rise for that time of year. Rain in the Great Lakes Basin was about 31 percent above average for May 2003 while in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario basins it was more than 60 percent above average, says Coastal Resources Specialist Chuck O'Neill of New York Sea Grant. "Much depends on the weather, but it now looks as though by mid-June the water level on Lake Ontario will be about five inches above the lake's long-term average for that date," says O'Neill, comparing the forecasted level to data which averages Lake Ontario water levels from 1918-2002. Since mid-March 2003, the lake has gone from being some fourteen and a half inches below average for that time of year to almost five inches above average for that time of year on June 11th. To see a chart showing recent lake levels plus forecasted levels
for wet and dry weather conditions through October 2003, visit 7. MI Sea Grant - Beach warnings often go ignored; Many swimmers
don't understand rip currents or their deadly pull Even as red flags warned swimmers to stay out of the water Monday -- three days after seven people drowned from rip currents along the picturesque stretch of lakeshore in southwest Michigan -- children and adults frolicked in the sandy shallows of Lake Michigan. Hubris and nature often lead to tragedy. "They don't pay attention or heed warnings," said Lt. Ed Sherrick, the marine division commander for Berrien County's Sheriff Department. Rescue and safety authorities who monitor Michigan's hundreds of miles of sandy beaches can't do much to prevent it. Rip currents are a threat wherever big waves pound into sandy beaches. "It's much more common than people think," said Chuck Pistus, who runs the southwest Michigan office of Michigan Sea Grant, a Michigan State University and University of Michigan co-operative agency. "We take these big bodies of water for granted." The phenomenon is well-understood by scientists and local rescue and safety agencies and has been for decades. The trick is getting the public to listen. Rip currents move 1 to 2 yards per second, faster than an Olympic swimmer. They fan out 50 feet to 50 yards. They pull continuously or appear suddenly. They rush out past the breaking surf and weaken or continue hundreds of yards offshore. The United States Lifesaving Association says four of five rescues by lifeguards on surf beaches involve rip currents. They are formed when winds cause waves to break on shallow underwater sandbars near the beach. The water is pushed over the sandbar but gets stuck once it hits shore. The excess water pools and slightly raises the water level until the force rips through low areas in the sandbars and rushes seaward. Rip currents can also occur in waters near seawalls, artificial reefs and erosion-control structures. They are sometimes spotted because they appear as a slice of murky water. For more information about Rip Currents and what to do if you are
caught in one, go to 8. Web News 9. Publications
WI Sea Grant - Littoral Drift: Special Issue on Scuba Diving
WI Sea Grant - New Reprints
Abstracts at: 10. Staff News Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Communications Chair Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Extension Chair WI Sea Grant - IJC Special Recognition - Anders Andren |
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June 2003Contents: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ At the same time over 1,200 conservation biologists from around the world converge in Duluth, Minn., for the Society of Conservation Biology Meeting, select galleries are encouraging community members and visitors to consider the theme of conservation through the eyes of some of the region's most acclaimed artists. Eight galleries in Canal Park and downtown Duluth are concentrating on Lake Superior and conservation themes in unique partnership with the Society for Conservation Biology and in recognition of the United Nation's International Year of Freshwater. "We are excited to be part of what is happening at the convention center, in the community and in the world," said Aubrey Danielson, exhibition coordinator at Waters of Superior Duluth. "We'll be hosting a gallery event for the Society of Conservation Biology, but more importantly, we'll be facilitating an awareness of art, the environment, and how both function to sustain us all." Through July, gallery visitors will notice conservation facts interspersed with environmentally-driven art in 8 Duluth locations. 2. OH Sea Grant - Stone Laboratory to Offer Photography Workshop by Ian Adams Stone Laboratory will host a nature photography workshop taught by Ian Adams from July 31-August 2, 2003. The workshop is a non-credit course for novice and experienced photographers. Utilizing some of the Lake Erie Islands landmarks and abundant natural subjects, the workshop will incorporate slide presentations, classroom seminars, and field photography sessions with personal coaching, demonstrations, and critiques. The cost of the workshop is $400, which includes two nights of lodging, all meals, and fees on Gibraltar Island. Enrollment is limited to 16 participants, so register as soon as possible. Mr. Adams' photographs are featured in the acclaimed book "Ohio: A Bicentennial Portrait" which contains 250 of his photos depicting Ohio's natural wonders and historic treasures. One of his photographs was recently selected by the U.S. Postal Service as the image on a 37-cent stamp issued to commemorate Ohio's bicentennial. For background information about Mr. Adams, visit his web site at: www.ianadamsphotography.com (link now dated) 3. WI Sea Grant - Cleaning Green Bay of PCBs Requires Cleaning
Fox River First Sediments laced with PCBs flowing out of the Fox River have increased the mass of PCBs in Green Bay 15 to 30 percent since 1990, University of Wisconsin scientists reported today at a public forum held at UW-Green Bay. Those continuing inputs make it difficult to determine how fast PCB concentrations in Green Bay's sediments will effectively disappear, said Jon Manchester, an associate researcher at the Water Science and Engineering Laboratory at UW-Madison and the lead scientist on the reported research. "There's simply no way to accurately forecast the bay's natural cleansing time without stopping the flow of PCBs from the Fox River," Manchester said. "If we want to clean the bay, we have to clean the river." While the total mass of PCBs in Green Bay has increased, the scientists said, the concentrations in sediments near the surface have remained similar to what they were in the late 1980s because of the continuing inputs from the Fox River. "In the early 1990s, it appeared that the concentrations of PCBs in Green Bay surface sediments were declining reasonably quickly. It looked like the bay might clean itself in perhaps a few decades," said Anders W. Andren, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UW- Madison who conducted a large study of PCBs in Green Bay with Manchester from 1987 to 1990. "This new research shows that sediment concentrations are not much different from what they were a decade ago, because the Fox River continues to add PCBs to the bay." 4. MN Sea Grant - Seminar - Lake Superior: The Big Picture Final talk in the "Superior Science for You!" speaker series, hosted by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program. Carl Richards, director of the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, "Lake Superior: The Big Picture." It's hugely beautiful and coldly treacherous; it's a fisheries and water quality manager's nightmare; it's Lake Superior. Dr. Richards discusses how intriguing interactions among space, time, chemicals, and species influence our understanding of Lake Superior. From the moments it takes a biochemical reaction to occur inside a diatom, to the eons it takes to sculpt the rock formations of the North Shore, enjoy the grand finale of this Lake Superior-oriented speaker series. Try listening through your computer at: www.seagrant.umn.edu/speakerseries/index.html (link now dated). A video of the presentation is posted. Video archives of previous talks and more information about the series can also be accessed through the speaker series Web page. This speaker series was made possible by a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management in conjunction with Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program. 5. NY Sea Grant - Dune Steward Program Evan Proulx has always enjoyed the outdoors. The recent SUNY-Oswego Public Justice-degree graduate minored in Biology and Forensic Science. His career goal is to be an Environmental Conservation officer. The skills he's learned as a dune steward along Lake Ontario support that goal. "The stewards program has helped me develop leadership and people skills that an enforcement officer can use. I've learned a lot about how fragile our ecosystems are and how to communicate that to the public," says Evan, who is Senior Steward this year. Two additional students from SUNY-Oswego and two students from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse are patrolling four sites along the Lake: Sandy Pond Beach, Southwick Beach, and Deer Creek and Black Pond Wildlife Management Areas - now through Labor Day weekend. The stewards' job is to educate the public about the importance of protecting the dunes and neighboring wetlands, says Molly Thompson of New York Sea Grant, Oswego. She supervises the steward program. This year's crew will survey visitors at the four sites to update demographic statistics collected in the late 1980s. Collecting data and telling visitors about the rules of the beach promotes understanding of the habitat and often prompts questions about the plants and wildlife, Evan says. Evan, a native of Clay, New York, parlayed last summer's steward experience into an additional part-time summer job redesigning the dunes and associated web pages for New York Sea Grant. This is Evan's second year in the Dune program funded by New York Sea Grant, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, and grant funding from the New York State Great Lakes Protection Fund. The program is coordinated in partnership with the members of the Ontario Dune Coaltion. Completing the 2003 Summer Dune Steward Crew with Evan are Willow Eyres of Bethleham, NY; Rachel Habig of Russellville, AL; Charles Hawkins of Fulton, NY; and Jeffrey Nassimos of Oriskany Falls, NY. "I plan on working in the Wildlife Management field or doing wildlife research. Being a dune steward is great not only because I'm meeting and working with all the people who do what I want to do, but I'm gaining valuable information about how to manage and protect a site as well as how to deal with the public," says Willow Eyres, a Biology major at SUNY-Oswego. Rachel Habig is a PhD candidate at the College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse. Her goal after graduation is to conduct research and teach outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. A Public Justice major at SUNY-Oswego, Charles Hawkins says he is enjoying learning about environmental issues on state lands and learning from the state Environmental Conservation and Park Rangers he is meeting as part of the dune steward program. His career goal is to become an Environmental Conservation officer. Jeffrey Nassimos is studying environmental policy and management at the College of Environmental Science & Forestry with the objective of becoming a consultant. "I'm learning to work as a team and about the key role public outreach plays in the environmental policy and management discipline." 6. NY Sea Grant - Lake Level Headed for Above Average Summer
in 2003; New York Sea Grant Looks at Historic Averages "Much depends on the weather, but it now looks as though by mid-June the water level on Lake Ontario will be about five inches above the lake's long-term average for that date," says O'Neill, comparing the forecasted level to data which averages Lake Ontario water levels from 1918-2002. According to O'Neill, Lake Ontario's water level moves through roughly a two foot range from a "normal" mid-winter low of around 244.5 feet above sea level on New Year's Day to a seasonal high of around 246.12 feet in mid-June. Between 1860 and 1960 (when lake level regulation began), water levels have fluctuated through a six-foot range between 242 and 248 feet above sea level. Since the start of regulation both high and low levels have been somewhat attenuated (that is, peaks have been trimmed off while valleys have been filled in), the net result being that the average annual lake level range has been skewed slightly higher than the pre-1960 range, says O'Neill. Since mid-March 2003, the lake has gone from being some fourteen and a half inches below average for that time of year to almost five inches above average for that time of year on June 11th. O'Neill says lakeshore homeowners prefer water levels to be a bit below average because lower water levels result in less destructive storm waves pounding the beaches in front of their homes and cottages and lower levels mean larger beach areas to absorb storm energy erosive effects. On the other hand, "higher summer water levels are preferred by electric power interests, as such levels serve as a buffer against drought periods and the higher summer demand for energy to run air conditioners," O'Neill says. "For owners of large recreational boats, and for operators of Great Lakes marinas, low waters can result in boats having difficulty navigating channels between the lake and marinas and even some problems berthing deep keeled boats in shallow marina basins," O¹Neill says. A recent study by the Recreational Boating and Tourism Technical Work Group of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board indicates that marina operators dredge basins and channels during low water periods to be sure depths will handle the boats frequenting their marinas. "Predicting water levels can be difficult because so much depends on the weather, but it now looks as though Lake Ontario is headed for a summer peak four to six inches above an "average" seasonal high level. Fall 2003 lake levels are more difficult to predict this early, but will most likely remain several inches above the lake's long-term average level," O'Neill says. To see a chart showing recent lake levels plus forecasted levels
for wet and dry weather conditions through October 2003, 7. WI Sea Grant - Don't get Carried Away This Summer: Beware
of Great Lakes Currents The two most important currents to know about are longshore and rip currents, Lubner said. Longshore currents flow along the shoreline, and rip currents flow roughly perpendicular to the shoreline on the surface of the water. "You always want to swim perpendicular to the currents," Lubner said. "In the case of longshore currents, that's perfectly natural. The current will carry you along, parallel to the shore, and you should just swim toward shore." Rip currents are trickier, Lubner said. "With rip currents, you get pulled out away from shore, and your natural instinct may be to swim directly towards shore, against the current. But it's best to swim at right angles to the current, which in this case means swimming parallel to shore. That way, you get out of the current the fastest. Once you are out of the current, you can swim to shore much easier," he said. "These currents are usually pretty narrow, so you can get out of them in a short distance," Lubner said. Some signs of rip currents are patches or lines of foam, debris and discolored water moving away from shore. Another sign is a stretch of breaking waves whose heights are lower than the waves to either side. "Remember that the dangers of currents multiply when the water is cold," Lubner said. "Cold water drains heat from the body very quickly and interferes with muscle operation and coordination. You can't swim very far or fast in cold water." 8. IL-IN SG - Steer Your Boat Clear of Invasive Aquatic Species Last summer Asian carp and snakeheads, invasive fish species, received plenty of attention because they are big and pose a dramatic threat to U.S. waterways. But they are just two of many non-native species that can disrupt the ecological and economic health of lakes and rivers. This summer, when heading out to boat or fish in waterways near and far, you can help protect your favorite lake or stream by taking steps that help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species of all sizes. "Aquatic nuisance species introduced into local waters can reduce fishing and can clog waterways, making fishing, boating and swimming difficult. They can also be quite costly to both recreational and commercial industries," said Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant biological resources specialist. There are several ways that boaters and anglers can help prevent the spread of these invasive species. First of all, never release live bait into a waterway. "It is very important to properly dispose of any leftover bait or bait bucket water," said Charlebois. "Bait may contain nuisance species and the water may also, in the form of microscopic zebra mussel veligers and invasive waterfleas." Simply throw any leftover bait in the trash and dump bait bucket water on land. Invasive species can also be transported in the water of livewells, motors, bilges, and transom wells of a boat, so before you leave the launch, drain any standing water from these areas onto land. Be careful that the water does not drain back into the waterway. Hitchhikers can attach to your boat when you move it from one water body to another, as well as ride on trailers, motors, tackle, downriggers, anchors, axles, rollers and centerboards. "Even a small piece of Eurasian watermilfoil attached to an anchor can lead to an infestation of the whole waterway," said Charlebois. Before launching, inspect your boat and equipment and remove all plants and animals. Wash your boat and other equipment to kill any exotic species that are not visible. You should use hot water (104 degree F) or a high-pressure sprayer. It's a good idea to become familiar with invasive species and to know which lakes and streams are infected. If you think you've happened on a new infestation, contact Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant at 847-872-8677 or call your local Department of Natural Resources. To see 3-D images of a number of problem species--mollusks, crustaceans,
fish and plants--go to www.sgnis.org (link now dated). You can order
brochures, invasive species watch cards and "Don't Dump
Bait!" stickers (as a reminder on your bait bucket) on Sea
Grant's Web site at 9. MI Sea Grant - Beetles Take a Bite Out of Purple Loosestrife;
Native Plants Recove in Some MI Wetlands The colorful but ecologically invasive purple loosestrife plant has lost its dominance in some Michigan wetlands, according to research funded in part by Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University. This aquatic nuisance species, known for its showy spikes of pinkish-purple flowers, blooms from early July until mid August in the lower part of the Great Lakes basin. In an article published in the online version of the journal Biological Control, researchers led by entomologist Doug Landis of Michigan State University report that Galerucella beetles, one of the plant's natural enemies, have established large populations in three mid Michigan locations and caused 100 percent defoliation of purple loosestrife. The beetles were originally released there by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1994. One of the most dramatic transformations has occurred at Crow Island State Game Area between Saginaw and Bay City. "At one time, the area had hundreds of acres of marshland with very heavy infestations of purple loosestrife," says Landis. "Right now it's hard to find flowering loosestrife within several miles of the release sites." Landis says the results show that biological control is working in Michigan. He is also very encouraged that many varieties of native plants are making a comeback. "We now have the first clear evidence that the number of plant species increases when purple loosestrife is reduced," says Landis. "It's a very slow transition from a plant community dominated by loosestrife to one that is much more diverse, with as many as 15 other plants in a given square meter." From 1995 to 2000, the beetles reduced purple loosestrife stem height by 73 to 85 percent, according to researchers. Stunted plants are an early sign that the beetles are beginning to have an impact. Defoliation follows. Students, teachers, naturalists and volunteers throughout Michigan
can take credit for releasing Galerucella beetles in more than 100
sites in 2002 as part of the Purple Loosestrife Project. (See Not sure what purple loosestrife looks like? Wallet-size identification
cards make it easy to identify purple loosestrife when it blooms
in mid July. The cards include a color photo, a brief history of
the plant, a description of why it's a problem in Michigan, and
tips on how to help control its spread. To order the purple loosestrife
i.d. card, as well as cards for six other aquatic nuisance species,
contact Michigan Sea Grant at (734) 764-1118, by email at msgpubs@umich.edu
or on the web at www.miseagrant.umich.edu/pubs/IDcards.html (link
now dated). Photos available at 10. Tidbits OH Sea Grant - Steelhead Biology and Management 11. Web News Before you pack up your fun-in-the-sun supplies and hit Indiana's Lake Michigan beaches this summer, you might want to hit the Internet first. A new Web site can tell you whether any of these beaches are closed due to E.coli contamination. "Last year, Indiana beaches were closed nearly 20 times over the course of the summer," said Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic ecology specialist. Lake, Porter and LaPorte County beaches are tested regularly for E.coli., a bacteria found in human and animal waste. E.coli is used as an indicator organism for the presence of other disease-causing organisms in the water. Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of developing an illness after swimming in polluted waters. "The new Web site will be updated weekly to provide timely information about water quality," said Dorworth. "You can see if the water at a specific beach is being monitored, who is responsible for the monitoring, the pollutants that are monitored, and if advisories or closures have been issued." In addition, the site provides water temperatures, a map of area beaches, answers to frequently asked questions about water quality and a number of useful links. The Web site is part of a monitoring and notification plan developed by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund and Indiana University Northwest for Indiana's portion of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has contracted with these organizations, who are receiving federal funds through the state, to develop the plan in response to the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act requirements. The BEACH Act was passed by Congress in October 2000 to reduce the risk of disease to users of the nation's recreational waters." The Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to award grants to states to develop and implement programs for monitoring and assessing for contaminants in coastal recreation waters used by the public. To use the new Web site, go to
12. Publications
WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio
13. Staff News Superior Program Award Michigan Sea Grant - John McKinney and Walt Hoagman Retire Michigan Sea Grant's Northeast Extension Agent based in East Tawas also retired at the end of May following 14 years of service with Michigan Sea Grant. Hoagman has published numerous scientific articles during his career as well as two popular field guides: "Great Lakes Coastal Plants" and "Great Lakes Wetlands". Walter plans to retire to Guthries Creek, Virginia, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. OH Sea Grant - Karen Ricker Leaving 14. Sea Grant Update Feedback Request
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May 2003Contents Barbara Liukkonen, water resources education coordinator, and Douglas Jensen, AIS Information Center coordinator, received a $152,860 grant from the National Sea Grant College Program for "Preventing New Introductions of Invasive Aquatic Plants from Water Gardening and Shoreline Restoration." The project, done in collaboration with Michigan Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will involve state agency staff, nursery and landscaping industry representatives, water gardening enthusiasts, and shoreline property owners in development of an educational model to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants. Jensen and Marie Zhuikov, communications coordinator, received $133,349 for "A National Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Outreach Campaign for the Aquarium Industry and Hobbyist Consumers." The project is a collaborative effort involving the Pet Industry Joint Council, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network to prevent the accidental spread of AIS by aquarium hobbyists. Ohio Sea Grant, under the direction of Frank Lichtkoppler, will also receive $37,400 over two years for the project. Patrice Charlebois and Robin Goettel, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, also received $88,989 as co-PI's in this project. Investigator Donald Leopold and his research team from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse were awarded over $203,000 to determine the effect of water level and other factors on the growth of the Eurasian frog-bit, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, and to explore the use of native invertebrate herbivores to control the invader's growth and spread. The floating-leaved plant, considered one of the top five invasive species in Canada, has expanded its range into the Great Lakes Basin and its spread beyond seems inevitable especially since control protocols have yet to be established. In a $140,000 project, senior NYSG extension specialist Chuck O'Neill will work with Cornell researchers Barbara Knuth and Tommy Brown to quantify the annual and cumulative economic impact of Dreissena spp. since their 1989 introduction to North America through the end of 2002 on surface water-depended public and private drinking water treatment and electric power generation facilities throughout North America. The results of this comprehensive survey will be presented to the National ANS Task Force and the National Invasive Species Advisory Committee (O'Neill is a member), among others, for use in invasive species policy setting. With nearly $65,000 in funding, O'Neill (NYSG) will work with extension specialist Mark Malchoff of the Lake Champlain Sea Grant Project to educate central and northeastern New York shoreline property owners, boaters, officials, stakeholders, and the media about the introduction, spread, impacts, management and control of the invasive water chestnut. This invasive plant, originally introduced as a water garden plant and for food and medicinal use, creates impenetrable mats in water bodies and can degrade shoreline property values by more than $12,000 per lot. 2. WI Sea Grant - Edge of the Lake Seminar Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 12:00 -- 1:00 p.m. Open to the Public - UW-Green Bay campus, Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Room 204 Please follow the "PCB" signs to the adjacent visitors' lot For a map, please see www.uwgb.edu/maps A major study in 1987-1990 mapped the locations and concentrations of PCBs in sediments throughout Green Bay. But what's happened to them since then? Recently, University of Wisconsin scientists analyzed sediments in the bay to find out. At this public presentation, scientists will present the results of this update and answer these questions: *Where are PCBs in Green Bay today? 3. MN Sea Grant -"Superior Science for You!" Seminar Explore the foundations of underwater life with Dr. Auer, a limnologist and engineer with over 30 years experience on the Great Lakes. Dr. Auer describes some of the mysterious phenomena observed in the lower food web of Lake Superior, relating these findings to the stewardship of this precious resource. Try listening through your computer - 4. Michigan Sea Grant - Great Lakes shoreline and wetlands: Task force issues report Jennifer Read, Assistant Director for Michigan Sea Grant participated in a special task force studying state and federal regulations on wetlands in Michigan. Recently, the task made recommendations to the regulatory agencies to allow shoreline property owners access to their waterfront while maintaining the ecological value of the areas. Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Sea Grant representatives were asked to coordinate and facilitate the process and were designated as the group's spokespersons. The Shoreline Task Force identified areas of inconsistency in existing Army Corps of Engineers and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permitting processes and recommended that the agencies work together to alleviate these inconsistencies. It identified and enumerated the activities that shoreline property owners can undertake without requiring a permit from either the state or federal regulatory agency. The task force issued a consensus document that includes a set of recommendations for regulatory agencies, including the federal Corps of Engineers and state DEQ, as well as other agencies and organizations with a Great Lakes research mandate and interest in Great Lakes and coastal wetland issues. The task force enumerated those activities that are allowable under General Permit (DEQ), proposed Permit by Rule (DEQ) or Nationwide Permit (Corps). These permit types impose considerably less red tape on a landowner than individual permits because they do not require a public notice period and generally have lower fees. "The consensus document and recommendations are a major step forward in addressing this important issue and balancing the rights of property owners and the public trust," said Dr. Jennifer Read, assistant director of Michigan Sea Grant. "The task force recommendations will provide direction and clarification about what activities are permitted on Great Lakes bottomlands." The task force's primary goal was to develop a consensus document
that identifies opportunities to allow shoreline property owners
to access and enjoy their waterfront while maintaining the ecological
value of the new wetland areas around the state. The Shoreline Task
Force Consensus Document is available online at: 5. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant - Tri-State Planners Focus on Long-Term Water Supply URBANA, IL--A precedent-setting intergovernmental effort to assure long-term water supply planning and management for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana is now underway. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) hosted a meeting on April 29, convening water managers from the tri-state region to organize a regional water supply consortium. "This is an essential effort toward assuring a dependable and high-quality water supply in our greater region," says Ronald Thomas, NIPC executive director. "This meeting brought together people to talk about the formative strategies to identify and prioritize the larger issues related to water planning and management that need to be understood and addressed by governments and policymakers." Attendees included Marcia Jimenez, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, and Derek Winstanley, Chief of the Illinois State Water Survey, as well as representatives of local, county, and state water management and planning agencies, and three regional planning commissions. The consortium is a direct result of the landmark Wingspread Accord (signed in 2002), bringing together four regional planning agencies covering 17 counties, nearly 8,000 square miles and more than 1,500 government entities around Lake Michigan. The effort also implements recommendations contained in NIPC's Strategic Plan for Water Resources Management, adopted by the commission in September 2001. Lead funding is being provided by the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (www.iisgcp.org). "Water-supply planning and management are rapidly becoming front-burner issues," said Dick Warner, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant director. "Sea Grant and its partners are pleased to help usher in these foresighted planning activities that will certainly prove to be strategic in coming decades." Despite Lake Michigan's prominence as one of the world's largest fresh-water sources, it will not alone meet the needs of the entire tri-state regional population. In areas that are dependent on water supplies other than Lake Michigan, such as inland surface waters, experts say there is a potential for scarcity. Discussion at the April meeting centered on water planning and management in the three states and the commonalities and the benefits of a consortium. "Now the work begins," says Sarah Nerenberg, director of NIPC's natural resources program. "We are starting by building a network of regional water supply planners and managers and interested parties. Some initial efforts will be on educating the public and regional, county, and municipal decision-makers and legislators on how water and land resources are linked." This group plans to meet three times to organize the collaborative process. 6. Tidbits OH Sea Grant - Unique Opportunity: Plan Your Next Meeting
or Retreat at Stone Laboratory OH Sea Grant - Special Opportunity: Summer Workshops at Stone
Laboratory 7. Publications Nitrates and Sunlight are Keys to Pesticide Degradation in Lake
Erie WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio programs for this
week - - Natural Understanding - Opinion polls show that only three out
of ten Americans understand what biological diversity is and why
it's important. (5/12/03) Earthwatch Radio is distributed on CD to more than 125 radio stations,
reading services and other broadcasters throughout North America.
Scripts are sent daily by email, and you can sign up for this free
service at: 8. Awards Ohio Sea Grant's "Guides to Lake Erie's Historic Shipwrecks: The Adventure, W.R. Hanna, and F.H. Prince" took top honors at the National Sea Grant Week Conference. The Guides earned the "Blue Ribbon Award" in the "Partnership" category. In addition to content and design, the Guides were critiqued by the contribution of each partner, how the partnership and product worked to serve the audience, and why the product was created in this form to serve the audience. The partners included the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Great Lakes Historical Society, Lake Erie Shipwreck Research Center, Maritime Archaeological Survey Team, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Coastal Management Program, Ohio Historical Society, and Bowling Green State University. The Guides are a collection of three underwater diver slates packaged in a waterproof envelope; each one features a site map, schematic diagram, diving information, vessel data, and ship history. For price and ordering information, contact the Ohio Sea Grant office at 614-292-8949 or e-mail cruickshank.3@osu.edu. Michigan Sea Grant earned two first place awards at National Sea
Grant Week -- A first place award in the newsletter category for
Upwellings and a first place award in the Web site category for
Wisconsin Sea Grant won a Blue Ribbon Award for Earthwatch Radio in the "radio" category at Sea Grant Week. Also, Stephen Wittman received recognition at SG Week -- the SGA President's Award for Meritorious Service. MN Sea Grant and IL Sea Grant both earned a blue ribbon award at Sea Grant week in the "compact disk" category for the "Exotics to Go!" CD New York won two people's choice awards: for the Program Guide: Fundamentals of a Sea Grant Extension Program and promotional products: "Disappearing" Marine and Great Lakes habitat mug. MN Sea Grant's Marie Zhuikov, communications coordinator; Mike Cousino, graphic designer; Sharon Moen, editor; and Debbie Bowen, information specialist, received a bronze award for publishing Minnesota Sea Grant's "Seiche" newsletter from the Agricultural Communicators in Education (ACE) Critique and Awards Program. The award will be presented at the ACE group's international meeting in Kansas City in June. At the 2003 Outdoor Writers of Ohio Convention, Ohio Sea Grant
District Specialist Fred Snyder was awarded second place in the
"Best Magazine How-To Article" category for his article
"Walleye Anglers Keep Pace with Changing Lake Erie." The
story originally appeared in the July/August 2002 issue of Ohio
Sea Grant's newsletter Twine Line and can be accessed at 9. Staff News Robin Goettel, Communications Coordinator, IL-IN Sea Grant, received her Master's of Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer Read, MI Sea Grant, gave birth to Kathleen Grace Donahue. Katie weighed in at a whopping 11 pounds, 1 ounce. |
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April 2003Contents 1. IL-IN Sea Grant - River Restoration Workshop 2. MN Sea Grant - Superior Seminar Endocrine Disruptors Coffee Beans, Laundry Soap, and Fish Sexuality: What Comes Around, Goes Around - Deborah Swackhamer, professor with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Public Health. The things we eat, drink, and wash with can mess up a fish's sex life. As they work through our lives and down our drains, some common chemical compounds can scramble the hormonal signals that rule fish development and reproduction. Dr. Swackhamer, an expert on these endocrine disrupters, will discuss her research on these chemicals and their impact on fish in the Duluth-Superior Harbor. A video of the presentation was posted to This Lake Superior-related speaker series was made possible by a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management in conjunction with Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program. 3. NY Sea Grant - Aquatic Invaders and Diving On Saturday, April 12, shipwreck explorers and scientists shared a stage at SUNY Oswego for Great Lakes Underwater. Hosted by Oswego Maritime Foundation and New York Sea Grant (NYSG), this seventh annual event included adventurous underwater tales and discussions on existing diving preserves in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence and future ones in Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Also, NYSG's Coastal Education Specialist, Helen Domske, explained how exotic invaders are affecting the sport of diving, which raked in $108 million in revenue for New York's Great Lakes in 1999. Figures are projected higher over the last few years, but exotics are still a concern. "As a diver, it's great that zebra mussels have gotten into the ecosystem," says Domske. "The visibility is remarkable. But if you were a fish or member of the plankton community, you wouldn't think so highly of them." And, once divers see how these filter feeders are encrusting diving wrecks and natural features, they too hold their applause. Divers are at risk of harm from zebra and quagga mussels as well, as the invaders' razor-sharp shells can damage equipment and puncture through protective gear. "It is a shame that we can't even see the form of some of these wrecks," says Domske. "These mussels are ruining some of the most historic and best preserved wrecks in the world." So, how can divers help abate this pervasive problem? Thoroughly clean SCUBA gear, bait buckets, boat hulls, engines, and bilge waters, sumps, and live wells. Trailers need to be checked for any sign of these hitchhikers as well. This means removing all visible mud, plants, fish, and animals. Since 1990, at least 4,500 non-indigenous species have established free-living populations in the US. About 15% of these - including zebra mussels, the fishhook water flea, and Asian carp - have caused severe harm to agriculture, industry, human health, and the environment. The cumulative effect of these invaders has compromised the biological integrity of the Great Lakes and other water bodies nationwide, causing ecological instability. "Exotic species have contributed to the biological artificiality of the Great Lakes ecosystem and have had impacts on virtually every ecological niche," says Ed Mills, Director of Cornell University's biological field station at Shackelton Point along Oneida Lake. Since the early 1990s, Mills, an internationally renowned researcher on invasive species, has overseen over a half dozen NYSG-funded research projects. Another example of an invader-induced scenario is the botulism connection between quagga mussels and round goby. Quagga mussels first appeared in New York's Great Lakes waters in 1991, becoming more abundant than zebs within two years. These mussels are fed heavily upon by round gobies, which are then preyed upon by other fish, which are in turn eaten by waterfowl such as loons. While botulism has been prevalent in the system for some time, this process has assisted in its spread up through the food chain. The upward mobility of these toxins is mostly to blame for the loss of approximately half Lake Erie's loon population in the last few years. This raises serious concerns, as the loon is one of the Lake's keystone species, crucial to its ecosystem stability. A more in-depth analysis of these issues will appear in the Fall '03 issue of NYSG's Coastlines. 4. WI Sea Grant - Mercury-contaminated diet may interfere with
reproduction It is well-documented that eating large amounts of fish contaminated with mercury can cause neurological or developmental disorders in loons, minks, humans, and other organisms. However, scientists know little about mercury's effects on the fish themselves. Mark Sandheinrich, Ronald Rada and two colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recently looked into that question in a study funded by UW Sea Grant. The scientists examined how eating mercury-contaminated food affected the reproductive success of fathead minnows. "Fathead minnows are the white rats of the fish world," Sandheinrich said. "They breed well in captivity and they reach sexual maturity relatively quickly-in about nine months," he said. That makes them easier to work with in the laboratory than hard-to-breed species like bass or walleye. In a simplified description of the researchers' experiment, one group of minnows ate a standard fish diet, while other groups ate the same food contaminated with a range of methylmercury concentrations. The range of methylmercury concentrations encompassed the concentrations found in the diets of fish in North American lakes. Most mercury enters aquatic systems in its pure form, as byproducts of fossil fuel combustion. Bacteria then convert it to methylmercury, a toxic form that accumulates in organic tissues. The minnows were placed on the experimental diets when they hatched. When they reached reproductive age, they mated with other fish that had received the same diet. The results suggest that mercury adversely affects not only animals that eat fish, but also the fish themselves. Compared to pairs of fish raised on normal diets, those that ate contaminated diets spawned less successfully (i.e., fewer spawned), they spawned later, and they produced fewer eggs. In the wild, those effects could spell trouble for fish populations, according to Sandheinrich. Normally, many fish species hedge their reproductive bets by producing hundreds or thousands of young. If mercury contamination reduces the number of spawning fish, and if those that do spawn produce fewer eggs, then fewer larval fish would be given a chance to reach adulthood. Also late-hatching fish may find themselves faced with larger predators or scarcer food resources than normal. Ultimately, any of these factors could cause a fish population to decline. For many reasons, however, these experiments merely suggest that these possibilities could occur among wild fish; they do not prove that they are occurring, Sandheinrich noted. First, fathead minnows may respond to dietary mercury differently in the wild than they do in a laboratory. Second, other species of fish may tolerate mercury better (or worse) than fathead minnows. Finally, producing fewer offspring may not necessarily result in fewer juveniles reaching adulthood. Reduced numbers of eggs could result in a higher percentage of those eggs reaching adulthood, because competition for food and shelter would be lessened. For all these reasons, Sandheinrich said it is important to "avoid a knee-jerk reaction" to his results. They are merely a first step toward understanding how mercury in the environment might affect fish in the wild, he said. Sandheinrich and Rada are now extending this work in another Sea
Grant-supported study. They are attempting to correlate the effects
of methylmercury on reproduction with its effects on gonadal development
and concentrations of plasma testosterone and estrogen-measurements
that fishery managers can make in wild populations. Such "biomarkers"
could help fishery managers determine whether wild fish are suffering
the same adverse reproductive effects from ingesting mercury that
fathead minnows show in the laboratory. Sandheinrich and Rada's
first project was described in Environmental Science and Technology,
2002, Vol. 36, No. 5. 5. IL-IN Sea Grant - Control of Purple Loosestrife Now a National
4-H Project In the near future, purple loosestrife, an attractive but invasive wetland plant, may have nowhere to run. A biological control program to introduce the natural enemy of purple loosestrife, the Galerucella beetle, into local wetlands, has been accepted into the National 4-H Collection of youth development curricula. The "Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife" will be used by 4-H volunteers across the United States. "This program provides 4-H field volunteers the opportunity to hatch thousands of these plant-eating beetles, to release them into nearby wetland areas where purple loosestrife is a problem, and to monitor the success of their efforts," said Natalie Carroll, Purdue University associate professor in 4-H and in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. "Through this project, the youth are learning a great deal about environmental issues and developing relationships with other organizations, such as local watershed groups," said Carroll. "The 4-H volunteers see their involvement in this project as providing a community service and doing something good for the environment." Purple loosestrife was brought to this country from Europe as a horticulture plant and as seeds in ships' ballast, and it has since escaped to wetlands across the United States and Canada where it has no natural predators. "It forces out native vegetation, and does not provide a food or a nesting source for native wildlife, said Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant biological resources specialist. "Invasive aquatic species such as purple loosestrife reduce biodiversity and can also change water chemistry and flow." The 4-H project to beat back purple loosestrife was developed by Carroll and Purdue University 4-H in partnership with the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Michigan Sea Grant, and Minnesota Sea Grant. It has been implemented in several Great Lakes states, but now will be available to 4-H programs nationwide. The youth who take part in this program commit to two years of activity-based training and field work. They learn about wetlands, invasive species, biological control and monitoring. "At the beginning of their involvement, the volunteers measure the diversity in a nearby wetland. After the release of the beetles they go back and assess whether there are any changes," explained Carroll. "The 4-H program has been instrumental in involving youth in efforts to introduce the Galerucella beetle into degraded wetlands," said Charlebois. "These volunteers can provide a critical role in the control purple loosestrife." If you would like more information about the purple loosestrife
4-H program, contact Natalie Carroll at (765) 494-8344. To access
the "Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife" curriculum,
go to 6. WI Sea Grant - Lubner Teaches Aboard Schooner Wisconsin Sea Grant Marine Education Specialist Jim Lubner taught
an introductory oceanography course aboard the wooden schooner
Denis Sullivan in January. Sailing round-trip from Florida to
the Bahama Islands, he introduced seven University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
students to taking water samples, making Secchi disk measurements,
and towing plankton nets. The students learned about currents,
waves, and weather, and they learned about life in the age of
sail. "They did stuff
they never imagined they'd do," Lubner said, "like
climbing out on the bowsprit to handle sails, steering the boat
in all kinds of weather, and standing watch around the clock."
Above all, the students learned confidence, Lubner said. "At
one point, one student said she would not have gone on the trip
if she had known much work it would be. By the end of the trip,
though, she said she'd go again, "no problem."
Based in Milwaukee, the Denis Sullivan is a three-masted wooden
schooner similar to those that plied the Great Lakes during the
19th and early 20th centuries. The ship is scheduled to return
to Milwaukee in late May. For more information, see 7. Web News WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio this Week
8. Publications
MN Sea Grant - Journal Reprints - steelhead trout
and northern pike genetics. Ardren, W. and Kapuscinski, A. (2003) Demographic and Genetic Estimates of Effective Population Size (Ne) Reveals Genetic Compensation in Steelhead Trout. Molecular Ecology 12:35-49. Free. JR 487 Miller, L. and Senanan, W. (2003) A Review of Northern Pike Population Genetics Research and Its Implications for Management. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 23:297-306, Free. JR 484 IL-IN Sea Grant - The ABC's of PCB's 10. Staff News Chad Dolan, Fisheries Extension Specialist, is a joint employee of the Illinois Natural History Survey and Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Technical Support Section. His major duties include educating stakeholders of issues surrounding Great Lakes fisheries, promoting the Great Lakes Sea Grant Fisheries Leadership Institute (a program aimed at developing effective communication and interaction between leaders of fisheries-related organizations and researchers or managers), and compiling information on Great Lakes fisheries habitat for use as Institute curriculum. Charlie Felkner, Aquaculture Extension Educator, with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, is working closely with the aquaculture industry associations in both states to assess current needs of aquaculturists and the Extension agents that serve them. Charlie is also a staff member of the Morgan County Cooperative Extension Service at Purdue University. WI Sea Grant - Coastal Engineer Keillor Retires J. Philip Keillor, coastal engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute since 1975, retired at the end of February. He took with him unique skills and expertise; Keillor was the only Sea Grant-supported coastal engineer in the Great Lakes region. Phil has always been exceptional. He also holds the first master's degree in ocean engineering ever conferred by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When Phil came to Madison in 1972, he had been a working professional for 12 years. A mechanical engineering major from the University of Minnesota, he'd worked as a project engineer at 3M for almost a decade. Before 3M, Phil had been an engineering intern at General Mills Mechanical Division, where he worked next door to a lab in which engineers were designing Alvin, the Navy's first underwater research vehicle. Phil was fascinated by the project - and elated. He'd finally figured out what he wanted to do: ocean engineering. "I suddenly realized I could combine my typical Midwestern boyhood fascination with the sea, and engineering," he said. The field of ocean engineering seemed to offer everything he'd always wanted to study and work on: a neat combination of his personal interests and his work, the culmination of a long-standing love affair with the ocean, ships, lighthouses and all things nautical - things that fascinated him since his boyhood on the Minnesota prairie. But why would a young man with a passion for the sea pursue an ocean-related degree at Wisconsin? "It was because of a chance conversation with a neighbor in St. Paul who told me that the UW had a brand new program in ocean engineering," Phil said. It turned out to be a marriage made in heaven. Wisconsin Sea Grant needed Phil Keillor, and Phil found great reward in working for Wisconsin Sea Grant. "Phil made a significant impact on Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Region," said UW Sea Grant Institute Director Anders Andren. "He will be sorely missed." |
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March 2003Contents:
7. WI Sea Grant - Record Low Waters Possible on Great Lakes This
Summer 1. HOLD-THE-DATE --Exciting, interactive panel session to be held at IAGLR 2003 Are you planning to attend the International Association for Great
Lakes Research Conference in Biological Invasions: How Media Communications Can Impact Policy and Research Agendas When: Wednesday, June 25th Moderated by IAGLR Past-President Dr. Gail Krantzberg, this panel discussion will focus on the exchanges between researchers and the media. The session will highlight past and current coverage of a two major invasive species issues in the Great Lakes: the Asian Carp and Ballast Water. The session will explore how media coverage and communications can have an impact on policy and research priorities. A panel of reporters and researchers involved in Asian carp and ballast water initiatives will be part of an interactive discussion with the session participants. Sponsored by: Great Lakes Commission, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, International Joint Commission, and Ohio Sea Grant College Program 2. MN Sea Grant - 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation
Biology - Duluth, MN, June 28-July 2 Coastal pollution, loss of coral reefs, the struggle to maintain biodiversity these challenging natural resource issues and many others faced across the world today are strongly linked to the interaction between land and water. The management and understanding of land, freshwater, and marine systems are essential to effectively deal with these problems. These situations, in addition to current estimates that by 2005, two-thirds of the world's population will be living with serious water shortages or almost no water at all, led the United Nations to designate 2003 as the International Year of Fresh Water. An international gathering of more than 1,200 biologists will convene this summer in Duluth, MN, to discuss interactions between land and water for the 17th Annual Society for Conservation Biology Meeting. The event will run from June 28 through July 2, and is hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute and Continuing Education Program, and the University of Minnesota's Sea Grant Program and Conservation Biology Graduate Program. "It's fitting to host this meeting on the coast of Lake Superior," said Carl Richards, director for Minnesota Sea Grant. "It's one of the largest lakes in the world in a region with an extremely high density of inland lakes, rivers, and wetlands next to urban, agricultural, and forested areas. The areas where land meets water are dynamic. Most are home to unique species and are exposed to many human and natural disturbances. Through this meeting, we will encourage dialogue on land-water interactions as well as a host of other conservation biology topics," Richards said. Plenary presentations will be given by Michael Dombeck, Pioneer Professor of Global Environmental Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and former director of the U.S. Forest Service; Jane Lubchenco, Valley Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University; David Schindler, Killam Memorial Professor of Ecology at the University of Alberta; and Joy Zedler, Aldo Leopold Professor of Restoration Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The scientific program will include 15 symposia focusing on a wide variety of conservation issues, including coastal wetlands, climate change, wide-ranging species, land-use planning, and marine reserves. Over 700 abstracts have been reviewed for presentation at the meeting, and several workshops and organized discussions are planned. The meeting will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The early registration fee (deadline May 1) is $200 for Society members, and $300 for nonmembers ($100 for students). Meals, field trips, and entertainment are extra. For more information, you can access the conference Web site at www.conservationbiology.org/2003, or contact the conference administrator, Kris Lund at (218) 726-7810 or 2003@conbio.org. 3. MN Sea Grant - Superior Science for You! seminar Although they are small in proportion to the open lake, the coastal wetlands of Lake Superior generate significant biological activity. The EPA is examining the mechanics and ecology of these often over-looked habitats of Lake Superior. Dr. Keough explains how wetlands contribute to life in the lake and their relationship with Lake Superior's seiches. Try listening through your computer! Video of the presentation
and previous talks in the series are posted to 4. Ohio Sea Grant - Call for Research Preproposals The Ohio Sea Grant College Program is requesting preproposals for
one to three year research projects on Great Lakes and marine problems
with particular significance to Ohio. Funding should not exceed
$60,000 per year and projects will begin on March 1, 2004 or March
1, 2005. An information session for investigators interested in
submitting preproposals will be held Tuesday April 8, 2003 at 1:00
p.m. in our Columbus office. The preproposal deadline is Wednesday,
May 14, 2003. The preproposal is available on the Ohio Sea Grant
web site at: 5. NY Sea Grant - Shipboard Course on Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Environmental Science (Sunday, July 20 - Saturday 26, 2003) is being offered for undergraduate science majors and science educators through Niagara University with the support of NY Sea Grant, US FWS, and US EPA. This experiential course takes place on the Lake Guardian. Participants will study fish biology, environmental issues such as toxic contamination, Areas of Concern - including the Niagara River and the Oswego River, and invasive species such as zebra mussels and the round goby. The course will include lectures, lab work and several off-ship field trips to study environments on the shores of Lake Ontario. The course will be co-taught by William Edwards (Niagara Univ), Helen Domske (NYSG @ Buffalo), and Mike Weimer (USFWS @ Amherst). 6. Minnesota Sea Grant - Aquatic Research Grants Awarded Minnesota Sea Grant Program recently chose nine research projects involving Lake Superior and Minnesota's inland lakes for funding. The award money, which is provided by the National Sea Grant College Program and matched by the University of Minnesota, collectively totals $678,500. The following projects that focus on coastal ecosystems and economies, Minnesota's fisheries problems, new technologies, and communities and urban coasts, will be funded through University of Minnesota departments for 2003-2005: - How Physical and Chemical Stresses Affect Survival of Spiny Waterflea Eggs: Donn Branstrator and Lyle Shannon, University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Department of Biology. The spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is a voracious predatory zooplankton that is an aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior. Current control efforts for this pest focus mainly on the adult life stage, even though the resting egg stage is more likely to be accidentally dispersed by recreational boaters on their equipment. Researchers plan to conduct lab experiments that will simulate different methods (extreme temperatures, drying, chlorine, and salt) boaters could use to kill any resting eggs on their equipment. Lake managers and policy specialists will find the results useful in containing the spread of this invasive species. - Fortified with Iron - Enhancing the Break-down of PCBs in Great Lakes Sediment: Paige Novak, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UM), Department of Civil Engineering. To explore ways to speed the breakdown of PCBs in Great Lakes, researchers will team elemental iron with microscopic organisms that dechlorinate PCBs in contaminated sediment. Previous studies found that particular microorganisms in Baltimore Harbor's sediment degrade PCBs more quickly when corroding iron releases hydrogen gas, which is food for these microorganisms, into the water. The researchers anticipate that similar microorganisms live in Lake Superior's PCB-contaminated sediments and will also respond to iron. They hope to stimulate PCB dechlorination in less-contaminated sediments by seeding them with iron and the Baltimore Harbor microorganisms. Speeding the ability of natural microorganisms to dechlorinate PCBs might complement or replace expensive and controversial dredging procedures and increase the ability of remediation personnel to manage contaminated sediment. - What the Nose Knows - Determining What Lures Steelhead Trout Home: Allen Mensinger, UMD Department of Biology, and Peter Sorensen, UM Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Steelhead trout, a variety of rainbow trout, are prized recreational fish. Exactly what draws them to their native streams to spawn remains a mystery, but knowing these factors could help fishery biologists better manage this migrating species. Researchers plan to build upon a previous Sea Grant study to develop a remote telemetry system that will allow them to continuously record impulses from nerves in the nose (olfactory nerves) of free-swimming steelhead trout in a lab setting. An electrode will be implanted into the olfactory nerve of several steelhead trout. Impulses from the regenerated nerve will be matched to different scents that the fish are exposed to and their associated behaviors. Eventually, researchers hope to use this technology in natural aquatic habitats to determine which cues are important to steelhead during stream migration. - Taking Stock of Steelhead Stocking: Loren Miller and Anne Kapuscinski, UM Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Working with the MN Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Lake Superior Area and French River Fish Hatchery, researchers will use mating records, captures at fish weirs, and genetic data to compare the reproductive success of hatchery-stocked steelhead trout to that of Lake Superior's naturalized steelhead. Simultaneously, they will examine the survival rate of juvenile steelhead produced by naturalized parents, hatchery parents and mixed crosses in isolated reaches of North Shore rivers. Building on a previous Sea Grant study, the researchers hope to guide the MN DNR's rehabilitation program for Lake Superior steelhead and examine the genetic and ecological effects of supplemental stocking on naturalized populations. - Lake Trout Lairs and Nurseries - Discovering What Determines Reproductive Success: Thomas Hrabik and Donn Branstrator, UMD Department of Biology; Nigel Wattrus, Brian May, Elise Ralph, and Stacy Stark, Large Lakes Observatory. A team of researchers will identify habitat characteristics favored by spawning and juvenile lake trout over two shoals of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior through remote sensing technology. This study will generate new information about how interactions among substrate size and stability, water movement, and sedimentation influence the reproductive success of lake trout. An understanding of water conditions coupled with high-resolution GIS information about habitat selection and use will help natural resource managers direct efforts to manage populations of these commercially-important native fish. The researchers will also analyze the diets of fish in the areas where juvenile lake trout gather to examine how young trout fare both in competition and as prey. - Watching the Wake of Storms in Lake Superior and Beyond with Remotely-Activated Water Quality Samplers: George Host and Richard Axler, UMD Natural Resources Research Institute. Researchers plan to develop a device that automatically collects water quality samples in response to signals from sensors that could be miles away. A prototype sensor-sampler system will activate water sampling in Lake Superior's St. Louis River Estuary when the sensor detects storm-induced changes in the water's conductivity and turbidity. After the researchers couple the system with equipment allowing them to collect samples from a variety of depths, they will move the sensor-sampling system to an inland lake to measure the extent to which storms stir bottom sediments and mix deeper high-phosphorus water to the surface where it can cause algae blooms. These characteristics, which can affect natural resource personnel's success at managing water quality and restoring aquatic systems, will be the criteria for comparing the new sampling system to more traditional and labor-intensive monitoring techniques. - Using Fathead Minnows to Screen for Estrogens and Androgens in Rivers: Ira Adelman and Vivek Kapur, UM Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Through this project, researchers hope to identify which genes in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) respond to estrogens and androgens. These compounds may occur in runoff from agricultural lands and sewage treatment plants. Researchers will develop a sensitive and specific genetic test and determine its effectiveness in evaluating the presence of estrogens and androgens in rivers. This test will provide a means of early detection of environmental stressors, allowing natural resource managers a timely way to reduce the impact of these contaminants and preserve the health of the ecosystem. - The Impacts of E. coli From Soil on the Lake Superior Watershed: Michael Sadowsky, UM Department of Soil, Water, and Climate; and Randall Hicks, UMD Department of Biology. This project seeks to determine whether E. coli bacteria, an indicator of fecal pollution, comes from humans or from sediments that erode into the Duluth-Superior harbor and Lake Superior. Although sewage or treated effluents are often blamed as sources of E. coli, many of these bacteria filter into aquatic environments from livestock in agricultural areas, warm-blooded animals in natural ecosystems, as well as from soils and sediments. As a result, the extent of human influences on coastal ecosystems and health risks may be over-estimated. Researchers will look at whether E. coli released into natural environments from soils and sediments survive and persist, and will identify what factors might influence their survival and reproduction. Using DNA fingerprinting, they hope to build on a previous Sea Grant project by identifying the original sources of E. coli found in the sediment, soil and nearshore environments of Lake Superior and to estimate the impact this has on fecal coliform measurements in the lake and harbor. Results will be useful to regional wastewater plant operators and government agencies both locally and in other coastal regions. - Male Minnows and Estrogen Exposure - Does it Pose a Threat to Their Reproductive Health?: Peter Sorensen, UM Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and Heiko Schoenfuss, St. Cloud State University. Male fathead minnows will be raised in water with concentrations of estrogen-mimicking compounds similar to those that researchers find to be released by sewage treatment plants and pulp mills along the Great Lakes. The researchers will examine whether these relatively low levels of estrogen-mimicking chemicals change any aspect of the minnows' development-particularly by monitoring the presence of a female yolk precursor protein, vitellogenin. Based on a combination of field and laboratory studies, the researchers plan to determine if typical effluent from treatment facilities will impair the ability of small populations of male fish to reproduce. 7. WI Sea Grant - Record Low Waters Possible on Great Lakes
This Summer MADISON, Wis. (2/20/03)-Unusually low water levels in the Great Lakes for this time of year may combine with lingering El Nino conditions to yield the lowest summertime water levels in decades, according to Philip Keillor, coastal engineering specialist at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. "This is the first time since the 1960s we've had such low late-winter water levels on Lake Michigan coinciding with El Nino conditions," Keillor said. "The last time that happened, we had some of the lowest water levels on record." El Nino conditions occur every three to four years, and they usually bring warmer and drier-than-average weather. That's been the case so far this winter, Keillor said, and it will probably hold true into spring, keeping water levels down. As of last week, all of the lakes were lower than last year at this time, according to Marie Strum, water resource engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit. Lake Michigan was six to seven inches below last year's levels and 22 inches below average for February. Lake Superior was two inches lower than last year and eight inches below average for February. Water on the Great Lakes normally cycles from a low in the winter to a peak in the summer. The Corps of Engineers predicts Lake Michigan will peak this summer between six inches above and two inches below its 2001 high water mark, which was its lowest since the 1960s. The lake generally peaks around mid July. Lake Superior is predicted to peak within five inches of its 2000 high water mark, which was the lowest peak for that lake since the 1920s. Lake Superior usually peaks in late August. During most springs, the lakes rise from melting snow and rain. But both sources of water may be in short supply this spring. So far this winter, little snow has fallen in the Great Lakes basin. Precipitation across the basin was 25 percent below average in November, 29 percent below average in December and 41 percent below average in January, the corps reported. Compounding the problem are very dry soils in much of the Great Lakes basin, according to Mark Svoboda of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Dry soil will absorb more melted snow and rainwater than usual, leaving less to replenish the lakes, Svoboda said. High rates of evaporation this winter have contributed to the current low lake levels. This winter's warm weather has been punctuated by several bursts of very cold, dry weather, producing ideal conditions for evaporation. Evaporation on the lakes is greatest when the water is warm and overlying air is cold and dry. The mild winter has also limited ice cover on the lakes, further promoting evaporation. 8. Publications
MN Sea Grant - Journal Reprint - Fish Genetics |
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February 2003Contents 1. OH Sea Grant - Invitation - "Lake Erie Sport Fishing
with Some Science" Feature Presentations "The Lake Erie Ecosystem, the Dead Zone and Invasive Species"by
Dr. Jeff Reutter, Director, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab Learn from the experts about how, when and where to fish on Lake Erie and the educational opportunities and the science that goes on behind the scenes in the Ohio Sea Grant College Program and Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island, Put-in-Bay, Ohio. A silent auction will be held beginning at 7 p.m. to benefit the Friends of Stone Laboratory. Auction items include vintage refurbished microscopes and other Lake Erie related items. Please RSVP by calling the Ohio Sea Grant office at 614.292.8949 or e-mail to cordi.2@osu.edu by February 26th. 2. WI Sea Grant - Call for Abstracts - 3rd International Percid
Fish Symposium 3. MI Sea Grant - Director Position Posted 4. WI Sea Grant - Earthwatch Radio
5. MN Sea Grant - Superior Science For You - Water Levels Seminar
This Lake Superior-related speaker series was made possible by a grant funded under the Coastal Zone Management Act by NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management in conjunction with Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program. 6. MI Sea Grant - Muskies infected with a rare disease in Lake
St. Clair Lake St. Clair's most prized game fish, the muskellunge, has been infected with a bacterial disease found in only one other part of the country. A rash-like disease called piscirickettsia has been discovered on some muskellunge caught in Lake St. Clair, said Mohamed Faisal, professor of aquatic and animal medicine at Michigan State University. "We also have to find out how widespread it is," Faisal said. "It can be harmful to the fish. The lesions are also on their reproductive organs. It depends on their resistance." Mike Thomas, a state biologist assigned to Lake St. Clair, first discovered the lesions two years ago when he caught a muskie in trap nets. But he was unsure what the quarter-size sores were. When he found more muskies last year with the sores, he asked Faisal to diagnose the disease. "It's an emerging disease ... that means it's new," Faisal said. "We have it only in several places, one in California and one here in Michigan. It's always like this with a new disease. I guess it will show up in other states." Thomas said some fishermen might be unaware that they have caught a muskie with piscirickettsia. "It's very likely a fisherman may look at these and think they are a healing lamprey scar," Thomas said. "The lamprey scars have teeth marks dragged across the skin, and it's flat. But the (piscirickettsia) is raised and some of the lesions have fungus associated with it. "We have to look at this more and see how prevalent it is." 7. MI Sea Grant - Zebra Mussels Spread in Michigan's Inland
Lakes "Inland lakes that have a high level of transient recreational
boating and are in close proximity to infested waters are particularly
vulnerable," says Mike Klepinger, Michigan Sea Grant Extension.
Klepinger also says that citizen monitoring, especially for adult
zebra mussels, has helped increase scientists' knowledge and understanding
of how and why invading organisms spread once they For more information about citizen lake monitoring and zebra mussels,
including Sea Grant's data base of all monitored and confirmed infested
lakes in Michigan, visit 8. Web News MI Sea Grant - Aquatic Nuisance Species on the Web 9. Publications
OH Sea Grant - Nov/Dec TwineLine
NY Sea Grant - Coastlines Fall 2002
OH Sea Grant - Non-technical publications
OH Sea Grant New Journal Reprints
WI Sea Grant New Reprints
NY Sea Grant - Reprints and Other Publications Please send requests to: Sea Grant Communications, Oregon State University, 322 Kerr Administration Bldg., Corvallis OR 97331-2131 1.800.375.9360, sea.grant.communications@orst.edu
10. Staff News WI Sea Grant - Assistant to the Director Delphine Skinner
retires |
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January 2003Contents The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program requests preproposals
in the areas of Coastal Resources and Regional Growth. Priority
areas include (1) the development of analytical methods or models
that can better identify, forecast, and assess the physical, social
or economic impacts of regional development on critical coastal
resources and habitats; (2) the creation and evaluation of new regulatory
and/or market-based management techniques and institutions that
can better reconcile the protection of critical coastal resources
with the promotion of needed new residential, commercial and industrial
development; and (3) the Priority will be given to researchers in Illinois and Indiana. While NOAA/GLERL cannot be funded directly by this NOAA/Sea Grant, GLERL collaborations are always welcome. Preproposals are due February 24, 2003. Awards of $40,000-$60,000
per year will be made for the 2004-2006 biennium. The complete RFP
can be found at 2. OH Sea Grant - Summer 2003 Lake Erie Water Levels to be Lower Than Last Year Columbus, OH-- Lake Erie water levels will continue a downward trend, according to the January lake level forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "The Corps is calling for June water levels to be about 8 to 9 inches lower than June 2002 levels, and this is similar to levels observed in June 2001," states Fred Snyder, District Extension Specialist for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program in Port Clinton. Roughly 90 percent of Lake Erie's water is provided by inflow from the Detroit River, coming from the three upper Great Lakes. Therefore, adequate winter precipitation in the upper Great Lakes basin is a key factor in maintaining Lake Erie's water level. According to the Corps' report, precipitation in the upper Great Lakes Basin has been below average this winter. December precipitation for the Lake Superior Basin was 67 percent lower than normal. In the Huron-Michigan Basin, the December precipitation rate was 57 percent lower than normal. So far in the first three weeks of January, the Superior Basin has received only 6 percent of normal precipitation and the Huron-Michigan Basin received only 9 percent of normal precipitation. Snyder adds that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center links the unfavorable precipitation forecast to the now mature phase of the current El Nino condition dominating the tropical Pacific Ocean. The Center predicts that the remainder of the northern winter will see drier-than-average conditions over the Ohio Valley and much of the Great Lakes. Much of the upper Great Lakes region currently is classified as being in moderate to severe drought, with drought conditions expected to intensify and expand at least through April 2003. Unless precipitation increases substantially over the next two months, which appears unlikely, Lake Erie boaters will see low water levels and increased boating hazards similar to those experienced in 2001. "Lake Erie boaters should remain aware of minimum water depths in their boating areas and of underwater obstructions such as reefs and shoals," cautions Snyder. Also be careful while boating on days with strong westerly and southwesterly winds, which can temporarily lower the lake level further, making shallow harbors difficult to re-enter. 3. Web News The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Web site was named site of the
month for January by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN),
see "We are pleased with the recognition of Sea Grant's regional outreach efforts, including the distribution of a variety of publications about aquatic nuisance species," said Elizabeth LaPorte, Communications Director for Michigan Sea Grant. "The regional Web site is a great outreach tool to let educators and others within the region connect to all eight of the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network programs." The site, redesigned in September, focuses on two main content areas: aquatic nuisance species and fisheries. These two areas have provided the greatest opportunity for collaboration within the regional network, a cooperative effort of seven Sea Grant programs that combine research, education and outreach for public service in the Great Lakes region. Other features include a searchable directory that taps into the
National Sea Grant database and is configured to search specifically
the Great Lakes Sea Grant program members; and the implementation
of a standard regional template design, as approved by National
Sea Grant's webmasters and communicators. This template meets section
508 guidelines for Web site accessibility by people with disabilities.
For more information about accessibility guidelines, see The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network promotes better understanding, conservation, and use of Great Lakes resources. Through Sea Grant extension agents, communicators and educators, the network plays a central role in supplying the region and the nation with science-based information to better manage Great Lakes resources for present and future generations. The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network is part of a nationwide network
of 30 university-based programs that works with coastal communities
and is supported by NOAA. For more information about Sea Grant see
WI Sea Grant - New Earthwatch Radio Website Earthwatch Radio has a new website 4. Publications MN Sea Grant - Seiche - December 2002 ( - Lake Superior's Deep-Water Donut Mystery - Siscowet Trout: A Plague of Riches - Voyage of the Mary Sears - One Million Exotics ID Cards Available! - Updated Publications List Available - Glossary of the Great Lakes 5. Staff News WI Sea Grant - Phil Keillor announces retirement February 26 will be Phil Keillor's last day. He notes "I have enjoyed this work very much and leave it reluctantly, but voluntarily. I decided that it's time to bring this long-running, fulltime effort of more than 27 years to a halt. I still find coastal engineering interesting and will be taking some time to decide if, or how, to continue my involvement in the field." Phil plans to remain in Madison and can be reached after February 26 at the following email address: philk@chorus.net or by phone at: 608-238-8930. |
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