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

jhummer@glc.org

Phone: 517-536-0566