Join us in Milwaukee for the 6th biennial State of Lake Michigan and the 9th annual Great Lakes Beach Association Conference. The joint conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, near the famed Riverwalk. The conference brings together elected officials, scientists, resource managers, planners, students, and citizens working to improve Great Lakes beaches and Lake Michigan.

Activities and events include field trips, workshops, and a reception at Discovery World’s Great Lakes  exhibit and aquarium. From a world-renowned zoo to the many museums, galleries, historic mansions, breweries, gardens and parks, there is plenty for companions and families to enjoy. 

Coming Soon!

• Registration
• Hotel and Travel Information
• Draft Program
• Schedule for Adjunct Meetings

Call for Presentations - Deadline Extended to July 8th 

All interested persons are invited to submit one or more abstracts for consideration. Both oral and poster presentations will require an abstract.  We encourage authors to submit abstracts for specific session topics but will consider general contributions. The deadline for abstract submittal is extended to July 8, 2009.  Please refer to the abstract submittal and presentation/poster instructions. Your abstract will be reviewed by the session chair and you will be notified of acceptance by July 15, 2009. 

All presenters must register for the conference.  However, presenters will receive a discount on the registration fee. 

Proposed Sessions

Lake Michigan Food Webs, Invasive Species and Ballast Water Treatment Lake Michigan Fisheries, Fish Passage and VHS Botulism Nuisance and Harmful Algal Blooms Nutrient Management, TMDLs and Bacterial Source Tracking Watershed Management and Decision Support Tools Progress in Contaminated Sediment Clean-Up and Lake Michigan Areas of Concern Climate Change, Water Levels and Great Lakes Compact Implementation Beach Restoration and Stormwater Management Socio-Economic Benefits of Lake and Beach Restoration, Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Wind Energy and the Lake Michigan Basin

Sustainable Ports, Marinas, and Working Waterfronts Lake Michigan Wetlands and Habitats Nearshore Monitoring and GLRRIN (Great Lakes Regional Research and Information Network) Connecting Lake Michigan Observations with Users: Instruments, Data and Applications  State of Beach Monitoring in the Great Lakes Beach Monitoring Databases and Data Reporting Pathogens and QMRA Rapid Assessment Methods and Predictive Models for Beach Management Coastal Processes and Impacts on Nearshore Water Quality Lake Michigan and Great Lakes Beach Outreach and Education

The information presented is used to revise the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) and to improve beach management and public health protection. The LaMP is a plan of action to assess, restore, protect and monitor the health of the Lake Michigan ecosystem. It is authorized under the US-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and used to coordinate the work of all the government, tribal, and non-government partners working to improve the Lake and its watersheds.

For more information, see the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan.