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New Steps in Volunteer Water Monitoring: The Fifth Annual MiCorps Conference October 26-27, 2009
The fifth annual Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) conference will feature presentations from volunteers from across the state of Michigan. We will celebrate the amazing work that is being done by the MiCorps volunteers to protect Michigan's lakes and streams. In addition, the conference will include presentations and training from regional experts, MiCorps staff and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Optional training for volunteers will take place on Monday, October 26th (see below), which is free of charge. The full conference program will take place on Tuesday, October 27th. Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. Bryan Burroughs, Executive Director of Michigan Trout Unlimited, a conservation organization of 21 chapters and 7,000 members. In this role and throughout his career, Dr. Burroughs has been an enthusiastic and dedicated advocate for the conservation, protection and restoration of coldwater fisheries and their habitats. Dr. Burroughs will be talking about the importance of volunteer data collection programs and their critical role in ensuring high-quality management of our natural resources in the coming years and decades. The conference is intended for volunteer monitoring program leaders, citizen volunteers, water resource professionals, and others interested in the health and protection of Michigan's rivers, lakes and streams. All volunteer monitoring programs are invited to showcase their monitoring efforts by presenting a poster or display during our Conference Reception on Monday evening. If you would like to display a poster about your program or organization, please contact Laura Kaminski, MiCorps staff, Great Lakes Commission, 734-971-9135, laurak@glc.org. Special Training for Volunteer Monitors On Monday, October 26th, from 1:00 - 5:00 PM, MiCorps will offer a special training workshop for volunteer monitors, "Introduction to Stream Flow Monitoring and Geomorphologic Measurement." The workshop will meet at the MacMullan Conference Center (Education Building, Lower Level) and then caravan to a local stream site for demonstrations. See the conference program for additional details or contact Ric Lawson (rlawson@hrwc.org or 734-769-5123). More information will be sent out to registered participants closer to the date of the training. Please plan to bring waders if you have them. If you don't have waders, we may be able to provide you with some. Please also note that you may register for the free training session only, without attending the full conference. However, advanced registration is required. Space is limited, so contact Laura Kaminski at laurak@glc.org or 734-971-9135 for more information. The conference registration fee is $35 and includes lunch on Tuesday, breaks and all conference materials. Dormitory-style lodging is available at the MacMullan Center at a rate of $43.75 for a double room and $67.25 for a single room (both include breakfast on Tuesday). Monday night dinner is also available at the MacMullan Center for an additional cost of $16.50. Online registration has now closed. Please contact Laura Kaminski at the Great Lakes Commission for assistance (734-971-9135, laurak@glc.org). For more information, please contact Laura Kaminski, MiCorps support staff, Great Lakes Commission, 734-971-9135.
The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) was created through an executive order by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to assist the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in collecting and sharing water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. For more information about the DEQ's Water Bureau, please visit their website: www.michigan.gov/deqwb. |
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Header photo: Glen Lake, MI by Sean McKendall Webmaster: Laura Andrews Program administered by the Great Lakes Commission and supported by funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment |