Great Lakes Water Studies Institute

WSI Progress & Priorities

The vision of the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute is to inspire
lifelong stewardship and understanding of water. This vision is achieved
through missions involving learning, collaboration and convening.

May 2004 - August 2004

Highlights of WSI progress and priorities for the period May 2004 through August 2004 are reported in this inaugural issue of "Profiles." Many initiatives are supported by a grant of $1.0 million from the Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the Traverse City Rotary Clubs.

Learning:

• Summer Institute for High School Teachers. Over 40 Teachers, students and community leaders from the region joined in a four-day institute called "Research, Inquiry and Public Partnerships for Local Environmental Education" (RIPPLE). The purpose of RIPPLE is to build community partnerships to develop locally relevant high school science education using fresh water as a theme. The program was led by Mary Whitmore, Ph.D., director of Petoskey's SEE-North, and Mimi Appel, Educational and Professional Development Consultant. Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University accepted the program for graduate credit. Participants will convene quarterly for the next year to share and discuss their partnerships and classroom applications.
• Invasive Species and Educators. The Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) held their third annual Invasive Species Field Course for over 30 teachers and environmental educators at the Great Lakes Campus, co-sponsored by the WSI. The course was designed to provide tools for learning and teaching about the causes and threats of more than 160 invasive species that inhabit the Great Lakes. The program was led by Colleen Masterson, Biologist and Education Director for ISEA. Central Michigan University is processing the program for graduate credit.
• Evaluation. One goal of the WSI is to promote and apply evaluation methods and tools to programs. Evaluating results will allow the WSI understand results and build cases for support and sustainability. The WSI began work with the Mallinson Institute for Science Education's Science and Mathematics Program Improvement (SAMPI) at Western Michigan University to develop evaluation methods and practices. Both RIPPLE and the Invasive Species program (covered above) will be used as pilots for building outcome-based evaluation.
• Internships. The WSI internship program was piloted to integrate student learning with non-profit organization initiatives, including internships with the Inland Seas Education Association and Conservation Resource Alliance involving students from NMC, Universities and TCAPS. Other Internships are being developed with the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center and with lake and soil conservation organizations.
• Regional Watershed Education Touring Lab. The WSI is partnering with Interlochen Center for the Arts in developing a business plan for a regional freshwater mobile lab that could be used by K-12 schools, non-profit partners and others. Through the WSI, Jenee Rowe is collaborating with area interests to complete the business plan and accompanying recommendations by the beginning of 2005.
• Community of Learners. The WSI's Community of Learners reviewed progress and results since its formation in late 2003. The Community of Learners has recommended assessment for needs and priorities to support learning about fresh water in K-6 education, including consideration of an Institute for Teachers to work with community partners in developing water education themes for those grade levels.

Partnering

• Alliance for Great Lakes Stewardship. Under the $1.0 million grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the Traverse City Rotaries, several initiatives were developed to foster volunteer support for area non-profit organizations with fresh water missions by members of the Traverse City Rotary Clubs. They include:
  • Kid's Creek Restoration collaborating with the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center, the Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District and the Boardman River Project.
  • Manistee River Streambank Protection project, partnering with the Conservation Resource Alliance.
  • An evening with the Inland Seas Education Association about their volunteer needs.
• Rotary Charities and Traverse City Rotary Clubs also created a " WSI Liaison Group" to partner with the Institute and area non-profit organizations involved with freshwater. The WSI will support this group in helping to plan and organize the celebration for 2005 of Rotary International's Centennial which, in the Traverse region, will focus on freshwater resources. Representatives of Rotary Charities of Traverse City have also proposed that this Alliance be recognized globally by Rotary International. Discussions are also underway about a potential water summit in early 2005 involving Rotary organizations.
• Non-Profit Capacity and Sustainability. The WSI is partnering with Rotary Charities to develop an initiative to address the needs, priorities and resources involving the capacity and sustainability of non-profit organizations which have fresh water missions in the region. This will be the first phase of a project that may be extended to other non-profit organizations in the region in the future.
• K-4 Students. The Institute partnered with Traverse City Area Public Schools' new summer program and the Great Lakes Children's Museum by offering field experiences at the Great Lakes Campus and "hands on" water-related learning projects for approximately 300 grade school students.
• Grants. The WSI will provide support and participation under three separate grant awards from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission involving watershed partners. The projects range from evaluating soil erosion best management practices, researching impacts of zebra mussel colonization on inland lakes, and designing nutrient models for inland lakes to help manage land use and development.
• The WSI water quality lab at the Great Lakes Campus will be fully operational by October for use by NMC faculty and students, K-12 teachers and classes and non-profit partners, including University Center partners.
• WSI continues to partner with Michigan Sea Grant and other regional interests in pursuing pilot site status for a new coastal observing system being developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. The WSI welcomed new Michigan Sea Grant Director Don Scavia to the region.

Convening

• The Statewide Wetlands Conference was held at the Great Lakes Campus and co-sponsored by the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. One purpose of the conference was to renew interest and focus on wetlands values and benefits and offer all interests the opportunity to learn about wetlands programs, projects and management practices. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being excellent, the attendees rated the conference a 4.9 - the highest ranking ever for a DEQ hosted event.
• The Great Lakes Campus and WSI hosted a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, including an event to stimulate discussions between area non-profit partners and Trust Board members. The WSI also presented the goals and expectations of "RIPPLE," the summer institute for teachers.
• The Institute hosted a convening of a number of private and public non-profit foundations at the Great Lakes Campus.
• The Regional Lighthouse Conference was held at the Great Lakes Campus, co-sponsored by Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, where U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Gail Norton transferred ownership of five lighthouses from federal ownership.
• The National Coastal States Organization will convene at the Great Lakes Campus in October 2004. The event will involve individuals with primary responsibility for coastal management within each state in the nation with salt of fresh water shorelines. A significant portion of the agenda is devoted to learning about Great Lakes resources, issues and needs.
• A national meeting of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be hosted by the WSI at the Great Lakes Campus in September. The primary purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for the organization to learn about Great Lakes coastal resources and implications for clean up and damage assessment programs.
• Plans are underway to host a planning and technical assistance workshop for regional inland lake associations in November, in collaboration with watershed partners.
• Great Lakes Campus facilities and resources are being increasingly used for convening around fresh water needs and issues, ranging from a recent informational meeting on the Great Lakes Annex to Board of Directors' meetings of partnering non-profits.