Evaluating and EnhancingLake Michigan
Nearshore Monitoring
John Hummer and Guan WangGreat Lakes Commission
Summer WebinarJuly 24, 2013
• Recognized as necessary component of the Great Lakes ecosystem
• What is the “nearshore”?
• Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Emphasis on theNearshore Zone
A network of Lake Michigan stakeholders engaged [or interested] in the monitoring of the Lake Michigan nearshore [and its impacting resources].
LMMCC Nearshore Monitoring (NEMO) Workgroup
• Take advantage of 2010 intensive monitoring efforts to pursue integrated, complementary monitoring activities and avoid duplication of effort.
• Integrate nearshore/embayments and offshore monitoring efforts and connect basin and tributary/watershed efforts to help us understand whole-lake connections.
• Provide recommendations to the LMMCC and provide monitoring expertise (thus serving as an “expert arm”) for the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP).
• Generate valuable information from nearshore monitoring, such as baselines and trends that can be used in the future.
• Demonstrate a coordinated nearshore monitoring approach
NEMO’s Original Objectives (2009)
• Project Title: Evaluating and Enhancing Lake Michigan Nearshore Monitoring
• PurposeEvaluate and disseminate nearshore monitoring metadata
results from the 2010-2011 Lake Michigan Intensive Year monitoring program and other Lake Michigan nearshore monitoring [including monitoring of other resources that impact the nearshore]
Apply lessons learned (& identify gaps in monitoring!) to improve the efficiency of future nearshore [and associated] monitoring efforts.
GLRI 2012-13 NEMO Project
• Updated (new) inventory of nearshore and related monitoring efforts
• Coordinated Lake Michigan nearshore monitoring database and GIS interface
• Two workshops (w/ proceedings) to evaluate nearshore monitoring efforts and develop a workplan for this group going forward
• Status report and assessment of nearshore monitoring for Lake Michigan
Project Tasks/Outputs
• Collected some 150 records of monitoring projects – thank you!
• Illuminate nearshore baseline monitoring data collected
• Highlight increased monitoring efforts over the past 4 years or so (due largely to GLRI)
• Will alllow us to identify gaps and needs for future monitoring efforts
Inventory
Federa
l Sport F
ish Rest
oration Fu
ndsGLRI
NOAA-CZM
Other Fed
eral F
unds
State
Funds
Tribal
Funds
Local an
d Other Misc
ellaneo
us Funds
Great L
akes
Salmon St
amp Fu
nds
Commerical
Fishing L
icense
Fees /
Funds
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2621
1821 21
6
35
10 10
Funding Programs / Sources
AssessmentBioaccumulation
DepositionEcosystem Health
GovernmentalHuman Health
LocalNon-Governmental
Non-RegulatoryPermit Compliance
Pollution EventProject Specific
Reconnaissance/Occurrence SurveyRegional
Regulatory BenchmarkResearch
Storm EventTrend Analysis
Whole-Lake
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Standard Project Objective
19%
54%
5%
2%
19%
Organizations that Created Data
Federal Agencies
State Governments
Tribes
Local
Universities
107
64
34
16
Sampling Parameters by Project
Biological
Chemical
Microbiological
Toxicological
Medium Nearshore
Shallow Nearshore
Offshore
Beaches
Coastal wetlands
Drowned river mouths
Embayments
Ground water
Harbors
Inland lakes
Lake
Lake bottom (benthic province)
River mouths
River substrates
Shoreline
Stormwater conveyance system
Tributary
Water column
Water treatment facility intake
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Resource Component Sampled
• Summary of Lake Michigan nearshore monitoring activities and gaps
• Recommendations for improving efficiencies and collaborative monitoring opportunities
• Highlight key watersheds
Lake Michigan Nearshore Status Report and Assessment
Number of Monitoring Projects in 8-DigitHydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs)
• Increased stakeholder participation in the LaMP• Collaborative monitoring• Data sharing and coordination
• Strengthened dissemination of information on nearshore issues
• Enhanced implementation of priority restoration and protection efforts
• More informed and improved management of monitoring programs and resources
Project Outcomes
Thank you for your participation!
John Hummer
Phone: 517-536-0566