The MiCorps Monitor: July 2009
The newsletter of the Michigan Clean Water Corps, Issue 6

Article 7:
MiCorps Updates


2009 MiCorps Annual Stream Monitoring Training Workshop

This year's workshop on stream monitoring methods for MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program grant recipients and other interested parties was held on June 29, 2009 at the Devries Nature Conservancy in Owosso. The event was well attended, with 17 participants on-site for hands-on training. New to this year’s training was the introduction of a revised comprehensive habitat assessment protocol and datasheet that will be used for new monitoring projects as of this year. Both the new and old datasheets are now available at www.micorps.net/streamresources.html, and MiCorps staff are working to update the MiCorps Data Exchange to accommodate this new data entry format. More information on the training will be available in the next issue of the MiCorps Monitor, or you may contact Paul Steen at psteen@hrwc.org with any questions on the new habitat assessment methods.

Be sure to visit the MiCorps Calendar for more upcoming events!


Staff Transitions

After last issue’s lengthy summary of recent staff transitions we, sadly, have one more to announce for this issue. As of June 1st, MiCorps program director, John (Jack) Wuycheck, announced his departure from the program to pursue work in his field of expertise as an aquatic biologist under the MDEQ Water Bureau’s Groundwater Withdrawal Program. Jack has provided oversight and leadership to the MiCorps Program and has done so with humor and a smile, especially during these trying times of budget cutbacks and downturns. Jack’s efforts over the years have helped to strengthen the program and we will certainly miss his contributions to the team. We wish him all the best as he transitions into this new role.

Jack will be replaced with MiCorps’ past program director, Ralph Bednarz, who again will assume responsibility for managing the entire MiCorps program in addition to his existing role in overseeing the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP). Many of you already know Ralph and have worked with him closely over the years. We are pleased to have him back to take over the MiCorps helm.


Michigan Lake and Stream Leaders Institute – Class of 2009

Michigan Lake and Stream Associations, Inc. (MLSA) and Michigan State University (MSU), with generous support from the Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited, have selected and begun to convene the Lake and Stream Leaders Institute "Class of 2009". This year will be the fourth session of this popular program, which is typically held every other year. The Institute provides an educational experience that improves participants’ understanding of local water resource management planning and program implementation. This year’s participants include riparian property owners, concerned citizens, environmental and sporting organization representatives, farmers, and natural resource professionals.

The Institute is conducted in five in-depth sessions that include classroom learning and field experience and practice. The first session was held at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on Higgins Lake on Saturday, May 16, 2009. The next three sessions are to be held on July 30, 31, and August 1, 2009 at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) near Kalamazoo. The final session and graduation dinner will be held at the Bengel Wildlife Center in Bath on Friday, October 2, 2009.

To learn more about the Institute, contact Dr. Jo Latimore at latimor1@msu.edu or (517) 432-1491, or visit the Institute website at www.msue.msu.edu/waterqual/lakeleaders.html.


Web Resources for Volunteer Monitors

Interested in additional information to assist you with planning, funding, and implementing your volunteer monitoring or other watershed protection programs? In addition to the resources found throughout the MiCorps website (www.micorps.net), the following websites may be of interest:

  • Planning and Developing your Program:
  • Funding Opportunities:
    • EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds Program: www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html
    • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html (Note: early in the summer of 2009, one or more Requests for Proposals will be announced for competitive grants advancing the Initiative, so stay tuned to see whether these may apply to you or your organization.)
  • Recruiting Volunteers:
    • EPA Volunteer Monitoring: www.epa.gov/volunteer
    • American Rivers: www.americanrivers.org
    • www.serve.gov website (a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities) (Note: the EPA is using the President’s Summer of Service campaign to promote volunteer monitoring and watershed stewardship programs. Consider registering your program on this site or contact Alice Mayio, USEPA Office of Water, at (202) 566-1184 for more information.)


2009 Annual MiCorps Conference and Training

MiCorps hosts an annual conference each fall to report on volunteer monitoring activity in the state. Training is also provided at the conference for interested volunteer coordinators. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to stay up to date on monitoring methods and to meet and interact with other volunteer monitors. This year’s annual conference and training is currently planned for October 26-27, 2009, at the R.A. MacMullan Conference Center at Higgins Lake (Roscommon, MI). More information will be released as it becomes available later this summer and into the fall. Please save the date!

Author:
Laura Kaminski
MiCorps Staff
Great Lakes Commission

MiCorps    
Monitoring Michigan's Water Quality
www.micorps.net