SFS Annual Meeting

5/21/2019  |   14:00 - 14:15   |  254 B

PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND CITIZEN SCIENCE Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a complex problem that we are addressing in Michigan via engagement among scientists, managers, and stakeholders. First, we engage boaters in conversations about practices that can halt the spread of AIS between water bodies through our Mobile Boat Wash program. Boater input gathered during these interactions has influenced our outreach approaches and recommendations. Second, we developed an informational campaign to minimize introductions of AIS from aquariums and ornamental ponds in collaboration with retailers, informed by a survey of their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. As a result, the campaign has been readily adopted and shared by dozens of businesses. Third, citizen scientists identify and monitor AIS in our Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch program, generating valuable data used by volunteers and managers to promote education, implement management, and inform policy. The improved mutual understanding of the AIS issue has led to a recent surge in public engagement with policymakers at the state and local level to improve AIS policy and enforcement. Additionally, engagement with these diverse publics serves to galvanize support for AIS management practices and amplify our messages far beyond what we could achieve ourselves.

Jo A. Latimore (Primary Presenter/Author), Michigan State University, latimor1@msu.edu;


Angela De Palma-Dow (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Lake County Water Resources Department, Adepalmadow@gmail.com;


Erick Elgin (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Michigan State University Extension, elgineri@msu.edu;


Paige Filice (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, filicep@michigan.gov;


Kevin Walters (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, waltersk3@michigan.gov;


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5/21/2019  |   14:15 - 14:30   |  254 B

BUILDING NEW MARKETS FOR SCIENTIFIC DATASETS ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES Maintaining annual funding to support operation and maintenance costs for observation networks is challenging. This presentation will highlight two case studies where public-private partnerships are used to sustain long term observation stations in Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. The first case study looks at the Lake Michigan Nearshore Buoy Network, which is made up of 16 real-time buoys that are owned/deployed by 10 different organizations. Funding for each station comprises a mix of public/private partners, however all 16 stations report a similar parameter set to a common data management system A combined 100 station years of data have been collected by this network over the last ten years to support models and a range of near real-time decisions. The second case study focuses on the buoy and shoreline intake monitoring network in Lake Erie to support forecasting of Harmful Algal Blooms and hypoxia. A network stations began reporting real-time lake conditions after the 2014 Toledo Water Crisis, which eventually lead to the development of a 22 station network comprised of sensors and buoys from 16 different organizations.

Edward Verhamme (Primary Presenter/Author), LimnoTech, everhamme@limno.com;


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5/21/2019  |   14:30 - 14:45   |  254 B

THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR WATERSHED MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN LAKE ERIE BASIN The National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR) at Heidelberg University has been monitoring major tributaries to Lake Erie for up to 42 years. Long-term trends in loads and concentrations indicate that total phosphorus (TP) has decreased since the mid-1970s in the agricultural watersheds, whereas dissolved reactive P (DRP) increased drastically in the mid-1990s corresponding to the recurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Lake Erie. Increased DRP appears to be associated with recent agricultural practices such as surface broadcasting of fertilizers and rotational no-till with high-residue management. The NCWQR has been involved in public engagement since its beginning 50 years ago. This engagement has included efforts to influence management plans to improve water quality, thereby meeting with policy-makers, technicians on the ground, and directly with farmers or farmer groups. We have also engaged with the general public to improve understanding of the complexities in factors influencing nutrient enrichment of area rivers and the lake. Although we normally think of it as a one-sided interaction, we have found public engagement is essential to understanding the underlying causes of patterns we see in water quality and how to solve those problems.

Laura Johnson (Primary Presenter/Author), Heidelberg University, ljohnson@heidelberg.edu;


David Baker (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Heidelberg University, dbaker@heidelberg.edu;


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5/21/2019  |   14:45 - 15:00   |  254 B

IDENTIFYING POLLUTANT SOURCES AND CULTIVATING AQUATIC STEWARDSHIP WITH LARGE-SCALE PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE Excess nutrients have created eutrophic conditions in 2/3rds of freshwater ecosystems. Two major factors impede restoring these compromised ecosystems. First, nutrient transport through river networks is extremely variable in space and time due to large swings in water flow, biological activity, and human disturbance. Second, a lack of public engagement with water quality issues reduces sociopolitical motivation to implement best practices. To address both issues, we organized a large participatory science project in the 10,000 km2 Utah Lake watershed, which is listed as impaired for excess total phosphorus and dissolved solids. We collaborated with several hundred members of the public, including K-12 and university students to sample ~250 sites three-times in 2018. We analyzed this rich spatiotemporal dataset to identify critical source areas, quantify spatial stability of water chemistry, and assess human and natural risk factors for eutrophication. We conclude that participatory science can extend scientific observation and improve public awareness and mentality, influencing how water resources are managed. Participatory water quality monitoring is not only a means of generating scientific understanding of catchment hydrology, it is a mechanism to encourage sustainable stewardship and improve water quality.

Trevor Crandall (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Brigham Young University, crandall.trevor@yahoo.com;


Zachary Aanderud (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Brigham Young University, zachary_aanderud@byu.edu;


Benjamin Abbott (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Brigham Young University, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, benabbott@byu.edu;


Erin Jones (Primary Presenter/Author), Brigham Young University, erinfjones3@gmail.com;


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5/21/2019  |   15:00 - 15:15   |  254 B

SCIENCE TO STORYTELLING: CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY Science is only powerful when shared. While most communities have some sort of governmental or partner agency to promote science education in and out of the classroom, I propose as scientists we need to push ourselves to be more actively available to educators whether visiting classrooms, offering tours of laboratories, and/or being part of community outreach. Research show that children who are exposed to science as a core part of their learning experience are engaged, social and less disruptive. This presentation reviews the state of science literacy in society, personal and professional barriers to youth-based science outreach, and various levels of age-appropriate engagement because everyone loves a bucket of bugs.

Marianne Denton (Primary Presenter/Author), Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, mariannedenton@sbcglobal.net;


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