6 annual louis river summit - lake superior national ... · 2016 st.louis river summit 9...

The goal of the conference is to provide a venue for sharing information on the St. Louis River Estuary among the

community, students, scientists, natural resource managers, and educators.

6th ANNUAL

St. Louis River SummitS H A R I N G O U R V I S I O N S

February 3-4, 2016 | University of Wisconsin-Superior, Yellowjacket Union

2 0 1 6 S t . L o u i s R i v e r S u m m i t 1

TableofContentsOralPresentationListing……………………………………………………………………………………. 2-4PosterListing……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-7OralPresentationAbstracts……………………………………………………………………………….. 8-25RiverTalk…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26PosterAbstracts………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27-50


February3,2016–OralPresentationsBigWaterMinnesota:AnIntroductiontoMinnesota'sIntegratedApproachtoBuildingResiliencetoClimateChangeinDuluth,MinnesotaJodiSlick11Ecolibrium3intheLincolnParkNeighborhoodEnvironmentalContaminantsinNestingSwallowsAlongtheSt.LouisRiver,MinnesotaandWisconsinDr.ChristineCuster1,Dr.ThomasCuster1,Mr.PaulDummer11U.S.GeologicalSurveyDesignConsiderationstoReduceToxicityandBioaccumulationRiskatAquaticHabitatRestorationSitesintheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryJosephKreitinger1,DianeDesotelle2,DanBreneman21USArmyResearchandDevelopmentCenter,2MinnesotaPollutionControlAgencyGreatLakesDataIntegrationVisualization,ExplorationandReporting(GLDIVER)System:FutureofGreatLakesdatamanagementNOAAStaffAreaofConcern(AOC)

SharingOurVisionfortheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryKrisEilers

St.LouisRiverAlliance

ProgressonBUIsandOpportunitiesforEngagementMattSteigerWisconsinDNR

WildRiceRestorationTomHowesFondduLacResourceManagement

Minnesota’sRestorationProjectDanBrenemanMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

Wisconsin’sRestorationProjectsMollyWickWisconsinDNR

ContaminatedSedimentManagementMikeBaresMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

SedimentQualityinWisconsinJoeGrahamWisconsinDNR

SharingOurRolesinAchievingtheVisionofaHealthySt.LouisRiverEstuary


JohnLindgrenMinnesotaDNR

February4,2016–OralPresentationsNOAA’sOfficeofCoastalManagementHabitatBlueprintandStakeholderEngagementHeatherStirratt11NOAAOfficeofCoastalManagementPeople&PlacesForum:BuildingaNetworkforCollaborationwiththoseintheSocialSciences,HumanitiesandHealthFieldErikaWashburn11LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserveTappingintoCommunityWisdomandIntegratingLocalKnowledgeintoRevitalizationEffortsKathleen(Katie)Williams11USEPAOfficeofResearchandDevelopmentOneRiver,ManyStories:CommunityEngagementthroughMediaCollaborationDr.JenniferMoore1,JohnHatcher11UniversityofMinnesota-DuluthAmericanRiversMostEndangeredRiversof2015:HowtheSt.LouisMadetheList,WhythatMatters,andWhat'sNextAndrewSlade1,ToniaKittelson21MinnesotaEnvironmentalPartnership,2FriendsoftheBoundaryWatersWildernessWelcometotheDarkSide:AnIntroductiontoLightPollutionintheTwinPortsCindyHakala11IDADarkSkyDuluthAnEvaluationoftheRivers2LakeEducationProgramDeannaErickson1,Dr.J.Ernst21LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve,2UniversityofMinnesota-DuluthTheBuriedPast:WhyCulturalResourceswithintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernMatterforEnvironmentalRestorationCurtisSedlacek11USArmyCorpsofEngineersVirtualBeach:UsingFreeDataandToolstoHelpInformBeachRemediationEffortsintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernAdamMednick11UniversityofWisconsinSeaGrantInstitute


AMethodforBallastWaterRisk-releaseAssessmentforProtistsMeaganAliff1,EuanReavie1,MatthewTenEyck2,DonnBranstrator3,TylerSchwerdt4,AllegraCangelosi51NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,2LakeSuperiorResearchInstitute,UniversityofWisconsin-Superior,3DepartmentofBiology,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,4AMIConsultingEngineers,5Northeast-MidwestInstituteLong-termDiatomRecordsSupportDelistingEffortsoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryElizabethE.Alexson1,Dr.EuanD.Reavie1,Dr.RichP.Axler11NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluthThePhragmitesPuzzle:TeamManagementofanAquaticInvasiveSpeciesintheSt.LouisRiverEstuarySarahGlesner11St.LouisRiverAllianceCameraandPlaneSurveysAssessingtheResponseofSemi-aquaticMammalstoRemediationoftheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernBrynEvans1,Dr.ShawnCrimmins1,2,Dr.TimothyVanDeelen1,Dr.NathanRoberts21UniversityofWisconsin-Madison,2WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources

February3,2016–PosterPresentationsADecadeofAquaticInvasiveSpeciesEarlyDetectionMethodDevelopmentintheLowerSt.LouisRiverSystemChelseaHatzenbuhler1,ChristyMeredith2,AnettTrebitz3,JoelHoffman3,JulieLietz1,GregPeterson3

1ORISEparticipant,USEPA,NHEERL/MED,2NRCfellow,USEPA,NHEERL/MED,3USEPA,NHEERL/MEDATemperedOptimism:NarrativesofwaterresourcerestorationintheSt.LouisRiverWatershedandimplicationsforclimatechangereadinessHollySaari1,JenniferShepard1,MaeDavenport11UniversityofMinnesotaCaffeineandP-XanthineintheSurfaceWatersoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryJasminFarmakes11UWSComparisonofinFieldTurbidityReadingstoLaboratoryAnalysesofSuspendedandDissolvedSolidsTraceyLedder1,JosephRipley21LakeSuperiorNERR,2UW-Superior


ComparisonofWaterMonitoringProgramSondesMeasuringIn-vivoChlorophyllConcentrationsandLabChlorophyllaConcentrationEstimationbyFluorescenceTraceyLedder1,AdamLein21LakeSuperiorNERR,2UW-SuperiorEarthwormInvasionandAlternateUnderstoryPlantCommunitiesinNorthernHardwoodForestsPaulOjanen1

1UniversityofMinnesotaEnhancingtheLakeSuperiorNorthandSouthWatershedAssessments-RedClayBankAnalysisC.Little1,J.Jereczek11MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesEnvironmentalSurveillanceandMonitoringatSt.LouisRiverAreasofConcern:Thenextfrontierforpathway-basedhighthroughputtoxicologyAnthonySchroeder1,BrettBlackwell2,KeithHouck3,GeraldAnkley4,CarlieLaLone4,DanielVilleneuve41UniversityofMinnesota,2ORISEResearchParticipationProgram,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,3U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,4U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyIdentifyingMigrationandWinteringLocationsofCommonTerns(SternaHirundo)BreedingintheLaurentianGreatLakesUsingLight-levelGeolocationAnnieBracey1,2,DavidMoore3,SumnerMatteson4,FredStrand4,CynthiaPekarik5,JeffreyCosta3,GeraldNiemi1,FrancescaCuthbert21NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,2UniversityofMinnesota,3CanadianWildlifeService,EnvironmentCanada,4WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources,5CanadianWildlifeService,EnvironmentCanadaImpactofMicroplasticonDaphniaandAlgaeKanishkaWijesekera11UniversityofWisconsinSuperior,ChemistryDepartmentIncorporatingEcosystemServicesofaNaturalCapitaltoPerformRelativeValuationofHouseholds’Storm-inflictedHealthOutcomesunderOptimalPrivateDefensiveStrategies:AcasestudyanalysisofthecoastalBangladeshDr.SakibMahmud1,Dr.EdwardBarbier1UniversityofWisconsin-SuperiorLivePresentationofAquaticMacroinvertebratesRepresentativeofDegradedandNon-degradedEstuarySites:Whyis“thebenthos”soimportant?Dr.ValerieBrady1,JoshDumke1,KariHansen1,RobertHell1,MattSanto1,HollyWellardKelly11NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluthMarinasAssistUSFWSwithMonitoringforInvasiveMollusksGaryCzypinski1,HenryQuinlan1,RonaldNemec1,UtaKamantauskas11U.S.Fish&WildlifeService


NewToolsandOpportunitiestoSupportCitizenScienceintheSaintLouisRiverTomHollenhorst1,KathleenWilliams1,RichAxler2,JesseSchomberg3,GeorgeHost2,DeannaErickson41EPA,2NRRI,UMD,3MNSeaGrant,4LakeSuperiorNERRRivers2Lake:FindingaplacewithstudentsofallagesintheLakeSuperiorWatershedArielJohnson1

1LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserveSt.LouisRiverAlliance-AquaticInvasiveSpeciesSentryProgram:AddressingAquaticInvasiveSpecies(AIS)EducationandPublicAwarenessintheSt.LouisRiverincludingwatersofSt.LouisCountyJillDiDomenico

St.LouisRiverEstuaryBottomTrawlingSurveyNickBogyo1

11854TreatyAuthorityTheComplexitiesofSedimentRemediationofSlipsintheDuluthSuperiorHarborLaRaeLehto1,BryanMurdock1,ChadScott1,TedSmith1,DougOlson1

1AMIConsultingEngineersTheSocialScienceforBuildingCommunitySupporttoAchieveScientificandEconomicResultsintheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryKrisEilers11St.LouisRiverAllianceToxicBiologicalAccumulatesFoundinLakeSuperiorFreshwaterFish:SharedvisionsforhumansintheenvironmentKelseyGunvalson1

1PrograminEnvironmentandSustainability:UniversityofMinnesota,DuluthTurbidityReducingBestManagementPracticesforthe21stAvenueWestEmbaymentandBeyondMollieMahoney11USACEDetroitDistrictUrbanWetlandBasinforImprovedWaterQuality,WildlifeHabitatandPublicGreenSpaceAdaTse11CityofSuperiorESDWeather,Water,andPeople:Interactiveweb-baseddatavisualizationsfordiscoveryanddecision-makingRichardAxler1,NormWill1,GeorgeHost1,TerryBrown1,TomHollenhorst21UMN-Duluth,NRRI,2U.S.EPA,MidContinentEcologyLab


WhenTeachingGetsRuffeinLakeSuperior:RufferesearchandoutreachMichelleGutsch1,Dr.JoelHoffman2,Mrs.CynthiaHagley6,Mrs.SamanthaSmingler5,Dr.RichardRicketts4,Mrs.NadineMeyer3,Mr.AaronSalmela71UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,2EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,3FrontenacStatePark,4LargeLakeObservatory/UMD,5GreatLakesAquarium,6MinnesotaSeaGrant,7DuluthAreaPublicSchools


OralPresentationAbstracts

BigWaterMinnesota:AnIntroductiontoMinnesota'sIntegratedApproachtoBuildingResiliencetoClimateChangeinDuluth,MinnesotaJodiSlick11Ecolibrium3

February3,2016,11:00AM-12:00PM

Resilienceisoneoftheframeworksusedtointegratehumanandenvironmentalconcernstoaddressthewickedproblemsthatfacesociety,includingvulnerabilitytonaturalhazardslikeflooding.Scholarsrecognizethatvulnerabilitytohazards,likeseverestormsandotherimpactsofclimatechange,isaboutmorethanthephysicalhazard;societalfactorscananddoincreasebothanindividual’sandcommunity’svulnerability.Recognizingtheneedtobothrespondtopastdisastersandpreparefornewones,theDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentcreatedaNationalDisasterResilienceCompetition(NDRC),anopportunityforcommunitiestoamelioratetheunmetneedsofpastdisastersandpreparefornewones.TheStateofMinnesota’sapplicationtotheNDRC,“RipplesofResilience,”isfocusedentirelyontheCityofDuluth,withaspecialfocusonSt.LouisRiverCorridorcommunities.Thegoalistocreateatransferabledemonstrationofhowintegratedhuman-environmentapproachesthatincorporateextensivecommunityconsultationcanreducemultiplevulnerabilitiesandhelpprepareacommunitytobounceforwardinthewakeofdisturbances.Theapplicationappliedresiliencetheorytodevelopacomprehensive,scientifically-informedplantoenhancephysicalandeconomicresiliencethroughenhancinginfrastructure,housing,communityconnectivity,andlocaleconomicinitiatives.Atthesametime,theapplicationactivelyacknowledgedtheAreaofConcernasasignificantfeatureofthelandscape.


EnvironmentalContaminantsinNestingSwallowsAlongtheSt.LouisRiver,MinnesotaandWisconsinDr.ChristineCuster1,Dr.ThomasCuster1,Mr.PaulDummer11U.S.GeologicalSurvey


TheGreatLakesRestorationInitiative(GLRI)wasinitiatedbytheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andEnvironmentCanada(EC)in2010.Itprovidedfundsprimarilyforrestorationandclean-upprojectsacrosstheGreatLakes,butassessmentsofthestatusandbiologicaleffectsofbothlegacyandcontaminantsofemergingconcernwerealsoasignificantcomponentofGLRI.Treeswallows(Tachycinetabicolor),anaquaticpasserine,arebeingusedasasentinelspeciesbecausetheynestinhighlyindustrialandurbanlandscapesthatarecommonintheGreatLakesbutwherefewotherwaterbirdsconsistentlynest.Theirfoodhabits,aquaticinsects,provideanavenueforexposurefromsedimentcontaminantstomoveupthroughaquaticandintoterrestrialfoodchains.DatafromfourlocationsalongtheSt.LouisRiverAOCwillbepresentedandputincontextwithotherAOCs.Forpolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs),themeanexposureintreeswalloweggsontheSt.LouisRiverasawhole,ranked18thlowestoutof27AOCs.Onasitebasis,thefoursitesranked24th(0.91mg/gwetwt.),44th(0.39mg/g),52nd(0.26mg/g)and62nd(0.15mg/g)outof69sites.Thelatterthreesites,MillerCreek,HogIsland,andStrykerBay,wereallatorbelowbackgroundforPCBsandsimilartoWildRiceLake,anearby‘reference’site.Bioindicatorsofcontaminantexposurewerecongruentwiththeexposuredataandalsoindicatedminimalphysiologicalresponses.Dataformercury,pesticides,PFCsandPBDEswillalsobepresented.


DesignConsiderationstoReduceToxicityandBioaccumulationRiskatAquaticHabitatRestorationSitesintheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryJosephKreitinger1,DianeDesotelle2,DanBreneman21USArmyResearchandDevelopmentCenter,2MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency


TheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcern(SLRAOC)RemedialActionPlan(RAP)callsfortheremovalofbeneficialuseimpairments(BUIs)relatedtofishandwildlifehabitatthroughtherestorationof1,700acresatsitesspecifiedintheRAP.Inparticular,threelargesitesknownas21stAveW(350acres),40thAveW(332acres)andGrassyPoint(180acres)arebeingdesignedasshelteredbayhabitat,afeaturedintheestuarythathadbeenhighlyimpactedduringtheregion’sindustrialdevelopmentwhenverylittleregulationexistingtoprotecthabitat.Severalmetricsarebeingusedatthesesitestobetterunderstandtheexistinghabitatvalue,providefordesignsthatimprovehabitatvalue,andtomeasurechangeovertimeasweworktorestorethesesitestowardastable,highlyvaluedpartoftheecosystem.Severalmetricsarebeingusedtoevaluatesedimentqualitytodefinespatialareasweremanagementactionsaredesiredtoreducepotentialsiteriskstobenthicaquaticorganismsandimprovehabitatforfishandwildlife.Contaminantsassociatedwithtoxicitytothebenthicmacroinvertebratepopulationandbioaccumulationintothefoodwebhavebeenevaluated.TheSLRAOCisfortunatetohaveawealthofsedimentdatatoanalyze.Thispresentationwillexplainhowthevariouscontaminantswereanalyzedtomakekeydecisionsonhowbesttodesignforasuccessfulhabitatrestoration.


GreatLakesDataIntegrationVisualization,ExplorationandReporting(GLDIVER)System:FutureofGreatLakesdatamanagementKateBarrett1DeepadeAlwis2,AnnieJohns31WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources,2MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,3NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration

February3,2016,12:30PM-1:30PM

Inthenextthreeyears,St.LouisRiverSLRAOCstaffplanstoremovefourBUIs.ReadyaccesstodataandtheabilitytovisualizeandanalyzethisdataiscriticaltotheAOCcoordinatorsandthescientistswhowillevaluatethescientificbasisforthejustificationofBUIremoval.AfterthepassageofGreatLakesLegacyActin2010,thechemicalandbiologicalinvestigationsacceleratedandcreatedalargevolumeofdata.TheSLRAOCcommunitysawtheneedforaweb-basedandGISenableddatasystemandtheneedforalong-termcuratorforthedata.In2014,NOAAsteppeduptobethatcurator,usingitsGreatLakesDataIntegration,Visualization,ExplorationandReporting(GLDIVER)application.NOAA’sGLDIVERdatabase,query,andmappingtoolswillprovidecustomizeddataexplorationandvisualizationtosupportdecisions.GLDIVERisdesignedtomanageandintegratelargeamountsofdatacollectedbydifferentsources.Dataareorganizedintoaconsistentandstandardizedstructure,whichimprovescommunicationanddatadeliveryandfacilitatesinterpretation,mapping,andanalysisthroughquery/visualizationtools.GLDIVERisbasedonNOAA’sexistingQueryManagerdatabaseandhastheadditionalbenefitoftheabilitytoabsorblargevarietyofbiologicaldatatypesandpowerfuldataanalyticscapabilities.ThepresentationwillincludealivedemonstrationandadescriptionofthedevelopmentscheduleofGLDIVER.Whenitisfullydeployed,GLDIVERwillbetheprimarydatamanagementtoolusedbySLRAOCstaff,scientistsandtheresearcherswhosupportAOCwork.


AreaofConcern(AOC)February3,2016,1:30PM-4:00PM

AnnualupdateonthestatusofimplementationoftheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernRemedialActionPlan.LearnfromAOCstaffandpartnersaboutprogressbeingmadeonrestoringfishandwildlifehabitat,managementofcontaminatedsedimentsandoverallprogresstowardsremovingbeneficialuseimpairments.ThesessionwillconcludewithanactivitythatinvitessummitparticipantstoconsiderhowtheirroleswithprotectionoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryhasevolvedsinceitwaslistedin1987,andmovestodelistingby2025.

SharingOurVisionfortheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryKrisEilers

St.LouisRiverAlliance

ProgressonBUIsandOpportunitiesforEngagementMattSteigerWisconsinDNR

WildRiceRestorationTomHowesFondduLacResourceManagement

Minnesota’sRestorationProjectDanBrenemanMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

Wisconsin’sRestorationProjectsMollyWickWisconsinDNR

ContaminatedSedimentManagementMikeBaresMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

SedimentQualityinWisconsinJoeGrahamWisconsinDNR

SharingOurRolesinAchievingtheVisionofaHealthySt.LouisRiverEstuaryJohnLindgrenMinnesotaDNR


NOAA’sOfficeofCoastalManagementHabitatBlueprintandStakeholderEngagementHeatherStirratt11NOAA

February4,2016,8:50AM-10:10AM

Since2012,aspartofitsHabitatBlueprint,NOAAhasbeenidentifyingHabitatFocusAreas(HFA).Thesefocusareasrepresenthighpriorityareasforlong-termhabitatscienceandconservation,andallowNOAAtomaximizethebenefitsofinvestmentsinmarineresourcesandcoastalcommunitieswithintargetedareas.In2014,NOAAselectedtheSt.LouisRiver(SLR)estuaryasoneoftwoHFAsinNOAA’sGreatLakesregion.AnImplementationPlan(Plan)fortheSLRisanticipatedforfinalizationinFebruary2016.StafffromNOAA’sSLRImplementationPlan(IP)TeamwillpresentonthefinalPlan’sthemes,activities,andevaluationmetricsforassessingprogressoverthenextthreetofiveyearperiodoftime.ThroughtheSLRHFA,NOAAwillstrengthenandexpanditsworkwithpartnersandlocalcommunities,andengagethewiderangeofofficesacrossNOAA,ontheseefforts.ScienceSummitparticipantswillhaveanopportunitytoaskquestionsoftheNOAAIPTeam,aswellasengageindiscussiononpartnershipopportunitiestomeetthePlan’sobjectivesthroughoutthemeeting.


People&PlacesForum:BuildingaNetworkforCollaborationwiththoseintheSocialSciences,HumanitiesandHealthFieldErikaWashburn11LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve


InNovember2015,theTwinPorts-basedPeopleandPlacesWorkGroupcoordinatedaspecialgatheringtobringtogetherresearchersandscholarsfromdiversefieldstodiscussenvironment-humanresearchandcollaborationopportunities.HostedbytheEPA,thegroupinvitedparticipantsfromeightregionaluniversitiesandreachedouttoandinvitedover150individuals.Thegoalsweretolearnwhowasdoingorinterestedindoingappliedresearchonhuman-environmentinteractions,whomighthavestudentstoengageinwork,whomightpartnerwiththeReserve,theEPA,NRRI,SeaGrantandotherpartneringinstitutesandwhomightbeinterestedinecosystemservicesworkinparticular.Apre-gatheringsurveycollectedinitialinformationaboutthiscommunityandtheadapted,open-spacedesigngatheringallowedforevenmoredatacollectionaboutpotentialnewcolleaguestoengageintheworkofunderstandingpeopleandplaceinourregion.Thispresentationsummarizessomeofthefindingsandpresentswhatmaybeconsideredthebeginningofanetworkdirectorytoencourageandfacilitateinterdisciplinaryresearchandcollaboration.


TappingintoCommunityWisdomandIntegratingLocalKnowledgeintoRevitalizationEffortsKathleen(Katie)Williams1,T.Angradi,D.Bolgrien,J.Hoffman

1USEPAOfficeofResearchandDevelopment


Localdecision-makingissometimesconsideredapuzzlebyresearchecologists,resourcemanagers,andpolicyresearchers.Theeternalhopeistofindthatmodelorconceptthatprovidesthe“right”informationtosupportlocalenvironmentaldecisions.Researchershavehypothesizedthatecosystemservicescouldbethatconcept.TheMid-ContinentEcologyLabiscurrentlyinvestigatingthathypothesisthroughasystematicinvestigationoflocalvaluesofecosystemservices,aswellasthedecisionmakingprocess.Wearguethat“local”decisionsaremulti-dimensionalandcomposedofoverlappingandsometimesoppositionalprocesses.Governmentalbodies,non-profitorganizations,andcitizensallhaveexpertiseandknowledgetocontributetotheprocess.Thisparticularpresentationwillfocusononeofthesedimensions–namelythecitizenmobilizationaroundtherevitalizationeffort.WepresentpreliminaryfindingsfromresearchonthediverseeffortsthatcitizenshaveundertakeninresponsetotherevitalizationeffortsintheSt.LouisRiverCorridorandtheecosystemservicesvaluesthatunderlietheiractivities.


OneRiver,ManyStories:CommunityEngagementthroughMediaCollaborationDr.JenniferMoore1,JohnHatcher11UniversityofMinnesota-Duluth


JournalismfacultyattheUniversityofMinnesota-Duluthhaveembarkedonamediacollaborationprojecttitled,“OneRiver,ManyStories.”Fundedbya$47,000grantfromtheKnightFoundationFundoftheDuluthSuperiorAreaCommunityFoundation,theproject’sprimaryobjectiveistoencourageareamediaandlocalstorytellersintheTwinPortstoturntheirattentiontoonetopic:TheSt.LouisRiver.Thisprojectistestingwaysmediacollaborationcaninspireinnovationandnurtureengagementamongprofessionaljournalists,educatorsandcitizenstorytellers.Weareusingparticipatoryresearchmethodstostudythisproject.Wearetestingwhethertheuseofcommunityengagementstrategiescanstrengthenrelationshipsamongnewsorganizationsinonemediaecosystem.Weemployamixedmethodologicalapproach:We“mapped”theecosystem,weheldacommunitymediaforum,andweareconductingin-depthinterviewswithjournalistsandcommunitystorytellers.Preliminaryfindingssuggestawillingnesstocollaborate;however,legacymediamayhavemorereservationsaboutcollaborationthanjournalistsatcommunitynewspapers,publicbroadcastingstationsandentrepreneurialstartups.


AmericanRiversMostEndangeredRiversof2015:HowtheSt.LouisMadetheList,WhythatMatters,andWhat'sNext?AndrewSlade1,ToniaKittelson2

1MinnesotaEnvironmentalPartnership,2FriendsoftheBoundaryWatersWilderness


TheSt.LouisRiverwasnamedbythenationalconservationgroupAmericanRiversasoneofthetenMostEndangeredRiversof2015.ThatdesignationwassoughtbylocalcommunitygroupsandtheFondduLacBand,todrawnationalattentiontothebeautyandecologicalimportanceoftheSt.Louis,andalsotothethreatfacingtheriver.TheprimarythreattotheSt.LouisRiver,organizersargued,istheproposedPolyMetNorthMetmineintheboggyheadwatersoftheriver.Infact,proposedmineswerethemainthreatposedtofourofthetenEndangeredRivers.AstheEPA’sToxicReleaseInventoryshowsus,already,metalminingaccountsfor38%oftotaltoxicsreleasedfrom1998-2010.Duringthecourseof2015,localriveradvocatesheldnumerouspubliceventsandtourshighlightingthedesignation,includingawell-attendedrallyindowntownDuluth.AcanoetriptoSevenBeaverLake,theheadwatersoftheriver,drewbroadattentiononsocialmedia.ThenationalattentionresultedinhundredsofcommentssubmittedtoMinnesotaGovernorMarkDaytonaskinghimtoopposeallpermitsrelatedtoPolyMet.HowmightfurthernationalattentionhelptheworkofrestoringandprotectingtheSt.LouisRiver?


WelcometotheDarkSide:AnIntroductiontoLightPollutionintheTwinPortsCindyHakala11IDADarkSkyDuluth


DarkSkyDuluth,alocalChapteroftheInternationalDarkSkyAssociation,workstoeducatethepublicaboutthebenefitsofreducinglightpollution.Wedothisthroughoutreacheventsandreducingbarrierstotheadoptionofdarkskyfriendlypoliciesandlighting.WiththerestorationeffortsgoingonintheestuaryandtheworkthatisbeingdonetorevitalizeWestDuluth,thisisagreattimetobringattentiontotheissueoflightpollutioninourregion.Asweworktoimprovelocalecosystems,itisimportanttorememberthatlightpollutionisadetrimenttoqualityhabitat.Inaddition,withnewrecreationopportunitiesbeingcreated,careshouldbetakenthattheseopportunitiesenhancetheoutdoorexperience(includingatnight)andnothinderitwithmorelightpollution.Whenlightpollutionisreduced,wildlifebenefit,humansbenefit,glareisreducedandsafetyisimproved,andenergyisconserved.WeproposetointroduceourselvesattheSummittoencouragepeopletothinkaboutlightpollutionintheirdailyworkandintheirSt.LouisRiverEstuaryprojects.


AnEvaluationoftheRivers2LakeEducationProgramDeannaErickson1,Dr.J.Ernst21LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve,2UniversityofMinnesota-Duluth


TheLakeSuperiorRivers2LakeprogramutilizestheLakeSuperiorwatershedandtheSt.LouisRiverasafoundationforeducatorandstudentlearning,increasedGreatLakesliteracy,andengagementinwatershedrestorationattheLakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve(LSNERR).Theprogramsupportsteachersinintegratinginquiry-andoutdoor-basedlearningexperiencesintotheiracademiccurriculathroughextendedtrainingandmentoringduringtheschoolyear.Evaluationdatafromprioryearsofimplementationsuggestpositivestudentoutcomesintheareassuchasacademicengagement,senseofplace,understandingoftheLakeSuperiorWatershed,andwatershedstewardshipaction.DuringthethirdyearofRivers2Lakeprogramimplementation,theevaluationfocusedonteachers.Thepurposeoftheevaluationwastodeterminetheeffectivenessoftheproject’sprofessionaldevelopmentactivitiesandtobetterunderstandtheroleofmentoringinpreparingandsupportingteachersinthisprogram.Resultssuggestteachers’useofLakeSuperiorWatershed-focusedlessonswassignificantlymorefrequentduringtheyearofRivers2Lakeimplementation,ascomparedtotheprioryear.Inadditiontoindicatinganintentiontocontinueusinginquiry-andoutdoor-basedlearningexperiencestosupportstudentsinlearningabouttheLakeSuperiorWatershed,teacherswereinstrongagreementwithanintentiontocontinueusingthisformofinstructionbeyondnextyearintofutureyears.Consequently,Rivers2LakesappearstocontinuetobeanoteworthyexampleofhowqualityprofessionaldevelopmentsupportstheattainmentofdesiredteacheroutcomesthatinturnsupporttheachievementofstudentlearningoutcomesthatareimportanttotheLakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineReserveandschools,aswellasthebroaderGreatLakesandenvironmentaleducationcommunity.TheevaluatoroftheRivers2Lakeprogram,alongwithseveralparticipatingteachersandstaff,willshareresultsfromtheRivers2Lakeprogramoverthelastthreeyears.


TheBuriedPast:WhyCulturalResourcesWithintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernMatterforEnvironmentalRestorationCurtisSedlacek11UnitedStatesArmyCorpsofEngineers,DetroitDistrict


EnvironmentalrestorationoftheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcern(SLRAOC)callsfortheremovalofbeneficialuseimpairments(BUIs)whichcouldimpactculturalresourceswithinasite.TheSt.LouisRiversystemandinparticulartheDuluth-SuperiorHarborareahasbeenanareaofculturalimportancesince11,200B.C.EandcontinuestoplayasignificantroleforthepeopleoftheDuluth-SuperiorareaandtheGreatLakesRegionasawhole.Inordertounderstandtheeffectofenvironmentalworkonculturalresourceswemustknowwhathasbeenleftbehind.TobetterunderstandtheculturalresourcesoftheDuluth-SuperiorAreatheUnitedStatesArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),onbehalfoftheMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency(MPCA),conductedaPhase1underwaterarcheologicalsurveyof809acresintheSt.LouisRiveratsitesidentifiedbytheSLRAOCforaquatichabitatrestoration.ThisincludedaPhase1terrestrialsurveyof311acresandaPhase2archeologicalsurveyof5knownarcheologicalsites.TheresultsofthesesurveysarebeingusedbySLRAOCpartnerstomakedesigndecisionsregardingtherestorationwhiletakingtheculturalenvironmentinaccount.Conflictbetweenculturalandenvironmentalissuescanoftenarisebutbyhavingdetaileddataavailable,thestakeholdersinvolvedcanengageinanopenandtransparentdialogueregardingtheseresources.ThispresentationwillcovertheinformationlearnedfromthesurveysaswellashowthatinformationwillbeincorporatedintofutureenvironmentalworkintheSLRAOC.


VirtualBeach:UsingFreeDataandToolstoHelpInformBeachRemediationEffortsintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernAdamMednick11UniversityofWisconsinSeaGrantInstitute


Beachclosuresandthepotentialforswimmercontactwithwater-bornepathogensareaBeneficialUseImpairment(BUI)withintheSt.LouisRiverAOC.SixbeacheslocatedwithintheAOCarelistedasimpairedandarethesubjectofanongoingstudytoidentifythesourcesandpathwaysofmicrobialcontamination–includinghumanversusnon-human,andpointversusnon-point.ThistypeofinformationiscrucialforremovingtheBUI;however,intensivesamplingandmolecularsource-trackingareexpensiveandmustbeemployedjudiciously.AcomplimentaryapproachistouseEPA’sVirtualBeach(VB)softwareinconcertwiththewealthoffreely-availabledataonfecal-indicatorbacteriaandcontributingnearshore,onshore,andhydro-meteorologicalconditionstoprovidescreening-levelinformationonwhentosampleeachbeach,aswellastherelativeinfluenceofdifferentpotentialsources.VBwasdevelopedtohelpbeachmanagersandappliedresearcherstoefficientlydevelopandoperatewater-quality“nowcast”modelstoinformdailydecisionsonwhethertoissueorliftswimadvisoriesandclosures.RecentenhancementstoVirtualBeachandtherelatedEnvironmentalDataDiscoveryandTransformation(EnDDaT)portalenableuserstodevelopnowcastmodelsthatcanestimatewaterqualityconditionsatanytime–withlittlemorethanawebconnection–inadditiontoanalyticalmodelsthatcanestimatethecomparativeinfluenceofdifferentpotentialsources,controllingforanynumberofdynamicenvironmentalfactors,suchasriverdischarge,waves,andcurrents.KeyfeaturesofVBandEnDDaTwillbeintroducedthroughacasestudyoftheirapplicationtoWisconsinPointBeach.


AMethodforBallastWaterRisk-releaseAssessmentforProtistsMeaganAliff1,EuanReavie1,MatthewTenEyck2,DonnBranstrator3,TylerSchwerdt4,AllegraCangelosi51NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,2LakeSuperiorResearchInstitute,UniversityofWisconsin-Superior,3DepartmentofBiology,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,4AMIConsultingEngineers,5Northeast-MidwestInstitute


PMAquaticinvasivespeciescosttheUnitedStatesbillionsofdollarsannuallyandaremostoftenintroducedviaships’ballasttanks,ashasoccurrednumeroustimesintheportregionoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuary.TheInternationalMaritimeOrganization(IMO),amongotherregulatoryorganizations,adoptedasetofballastwaterperformancestandardsthatsetslimitsonthenumberofviableorganismsthatcanbedischargedwithballastwater.TheIMOlimitforthedischargeofprotists(suchasphytoplankton)is10viableorganismspermL.TheNationalResearchCouncil(NRC)hopestogroundtheproposedIMOlimitsinscientificresearchbydeterminingtherisk-releaserelationship(thenumberofpropagulesneededtopotentiallyleadtoaninvasion).Toexaminetherisk-releaserelationshipasurrogateinvader(aphytoplanktonicdiatom),wasused.Varyingdensitiesofthesurrogatewereaddedto19-LmesocosmsofwaterfromtheDuluth-SuperiorHarboratSuperior,Wisconsin.Eachmesocosmwassampledweeklyforfourweeksandtheresponseofthephytoplanktoncommunitywasmeasuredviaassessmentsofcelldensities,bothofthe“invader”andofthebackgroundcommunities.Populationresponsesvariedbystartingconditions(waterqualityandnaturalspeciesassemblages)butinsomecasesthesurrogatewasabletoestablishwithstartingdensitieshigherthan20cells/mL.Ourfindingssuggestthemesocosmmethodhaspotentialtoinformtherisk-releaserelationship.Additionalsurrogatesandenvironmentalconditionsshouldbeusedinmesocosmstoextendourunderstandingoforganismdischargelimits.


Long-termDiatomRecordsSupportDelistingEffortsoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryElizabethE.Alexson1,Dr.EuanD.Reavie1,Dr.RichP.Axler11NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth


TheSt.LouisRiverEstuary(SLRE)hasalonghistoryofhumandevelopmentsinceEuro-Americansettlement~200yearsago.Duetodegradationfromlogging,hydrologicmodification,anduntreatedsewagefromtwomajorcities,theEPAdesignatedtheSLREasanAreaofConcernin1987.Sincethen,governmentandprivateentitiestookactiontorestorewaterqualityinhopestoeventuallyremovebeneficialuseimpairments.However,duetoalackofhistoricaldatatheextentofremediationisunknown,soapaleolimnologicalstudyoftheSLREwasinitiatedtoclosetheknowledgegap.Diatomassemblageswereanalyzedfromsixcorestakenthroughouttheestuary.Preliminaryresultstellacomplexstorybecauseofnaturalvariabilitythroughouttheestuary,recentmajorstormevents,andacontinuedindustrialpresence.ReductionsineutrophictaxalikeCyclotellameneghinianaandStephanodiscusspp.incertaincoressuggestarecoveryofwaterquality.Howeverinotherareas,persistenceofCyclostephanosdubiusandStephanodiscusbinderanus,alsoeutrophicindicators,indicatecontinuingeutrophication.Thediatomassemblages,integratedwithotherbiological,chemicalandphysicalindicatorsfromthesediments,willaidagenciesindeterminingwheretotargetresourcesanddelistingefforts.


ThePhragmitesPuzzle:TeamManagementofanAquaticInvasiveSpeciesintheSt.LouisRiverEstuarySarahGlesner11St.LouisRiverAlliance


Non-nativePhragmitesaustralis,orCommonReed,isahardyinvasivespeciesthatoutcompetesnativeplantpopulationsbydominatingdisturbedsedimentsandsoils.Phragmitesisanimposingplant,growingover15feettallwiththickstalksanddensestands.ThisspecieshasmadeitswayintotheGreatLakesBasinandhasestablishedseriousmonoculturesthathavewreakedhavoconnativeplantpopulationsandshorelinesinportionsofthelowerGreatLakes.AsmallpopulationofPhragmiteshasbeenidentifiedintheSt.LouisRiverEstuary.ThroughfundingprovidedbytheSt.LouisCountyAquaticInvasiveSpeciesPreventionProgram,theSt.LouisRiverAlliancehasconvenedatechnicalteamofadvisors.ThetechnicalteamgoalistoestablishamanagementplantopreventthespreadofPhragmitesinthelowerSt.LouisRiver.Thisprojectaddressesthechallengesofworkingwithacomplexsystemoflandowners,stakeholders,andorganizationalpartnerstoachievemanagementgoalsinamulti-useenvironmentofgreatimportancetothecommunity.ThemanagementprocessdevelopedbythetechnicalteamwillhelpprotectthemanyrestorationprojectsinprogressandscheduledforthefuturefrompotentiallydamagingPhragmitescolonization.ThesuccessofthisprojectdependsonimmediatecommunityengagementinordertomanageexistingPhragmitesstandsandtopreventthespreadofthisrobustinvasiveplantthroughouttheSt.LouisRiverEstuary.


CameraandPlaneSurveysAssessingtheResponseofSemi-aquaticMammalstoRemediationoftheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcernBrynEvans1,DrShawnCrimmins1,2,Dr.TimothyVanDeelen1,Dr.NathanRoberts21UniversityofWisconsin-Madison,2WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources


WhentheStLouisRiverEstuarywasdesignatedasanAreaofConcern,bothlossoffishandwildlifehabitatanddegradationoffishandwildlifepopulationswereincludedasBeneficialUseImpairments.Multipleremediationprojectshaveimprovedhabitatquality,andourstudyisassessingtheresponseofsemi-aquaticmammalstorestorationwithintheAOC.DatacollectionbeganinNovember2014,focusingontheoccurrenceoffourspeciesthataredependentonaquaticecosystems:riverotter(Lontracanadensis),beaver(Castorcanadensis),mink(Neovisonvison),andmuskrat(Ondatrazibethicus).Usingacombinationofmotiontriggeredcamerasandaerialsurveys,wearequantifyingpopulationsthroughouttheestuaryaswellasintwounimpairedreferencesites;BoulderLakeReservoirinnortheasternMinnesotaandtheStCroixRivernearDanburyinnorthwesternWisconsin.Thedataareanalyzedinanoccupancymodelingframeworktoassessdifferencesinabundancebetweentheestuaryandunimpairedsitesanddeterminehabitatrelationshipsforthesespecies.PreliminarydataanalysisindicatesspeciesrecoveryisoccurringintheAOC,andasoffall2015datacollectionisongoingbothviatrailcamerasandaerialsurveys.Wearealsointheprocessofobtainingtissuesamplestotestforresidualimpactofheavymetalcontamination.Ourfinalsynthesiswillfocusonanyremainingbarrierstofullrecovery,aswellasprovideameansofvalidatingcurrentaerialsurveymethodsforsemi-aquaticmammalsinthisregionbycomparingthoseresultstotheintensivefieldmonitoring.


RiverTalk


PosterPresentationAbstracts

ADecadeofAquaticInvasiveSpeciesEarlyDetectionMethodDevelopmentintheLowerSt.LouisRiverSystemChelseaHatzenbuhler1,ChristyMeredith2,AnettTrebitz3,JoelHoffman3,JulieLietz1,GregPeterson3

1ORISEparticipant,USEPA,NHEERL/MED,2NRCfellow,USEPA,NHEERL/MED,3USEPA,NHEERL/MED


Asaninvasionpronelocation,thelowerSt.LouisRiversystem(SLR)hasbeenacasestudyforongoingresearchtodeveloptheframeworkforapracticalGreatLakesmonitoringnetworkforearlydetectionofaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS).Earlydetection,however,necessitatesfindingnewinvadersbeforetheyarecommon.Hereweoutlineourresearch(2005–present)approachandfindings,includingstrategiestoincreasedetectionefficiencybyoptimizingspecimencollectionandidentificationmethods.Initialsurveysweredesignedtoover-sampletoamassdataasthebasisfornumericalexperimentstoinvestigatetotheeffortrequiredforagivendetectionprobability.Latersurveystestedtheoutcomeofimplementingthesestrategies,examinedthepotentialbenefitsofsamplinglarvalfishinsteadofadultsandexploredtheprospectofusingadvancedDNAbasedmethodsasanalternativetotraditionaltaxonomy.Todatewehaveidentifiedseveralpreviouslyundetectedinvertebrateinvaders,developedsurveydesignandgearrecommendationsandhaverefinedthesearchstrategyforsystemsbeyondtheSLR.Inaddition,becausewe’veaccumulatedsuchalargebodyofdatawenowhavethebasistoshowspatial-temporaltrendsfornativeandnon-nativespeciesinthelowerSLRsystem.


ATemperedOptimism:NarrativesofwaterresourcerestorationintheSt.LouisRiverWatershedandimplicationsforclimatechangereadinessHollySaari,JenniferShepard,MaeDavenport1UniversityofMinnesota


AgrowingbodyofevidenceshowsextremeweathereventsintheUpperMidwestareincreasing.Dramaticandunprecedentedswingsintemperatureandprecipitationcanleavecoastalcommunitiesunpreparedfortheeffectsonwaterresources.OneoftheaimsoftheCommunityClimateReadinessstudyistoexaminehowdecisionmakersandcommunitymemberswithinDuluthandHermantownviewwaterresourcesandthepotentialimpactsextremeweatherandclimatechangewillhaveontheseresources.InpartnershipwiththeNaturalResourcesResearchInstituteatUniversityofMinnesotaDuluthandfundedbyMinnesotaSeaGrant,UniversityofMinnesotaresearchersconducted27interviewswithdecisionmakers,resourcemanagers,andothercommunitystakeholdersintheSt.LouisRiverMissionandMillerCreekWatersheds.FindingsindicatearenewedinterestinandappreciationoftheSt.LouisRiverwithinthesecoastalcommunitiesaswellasconcernsabouttheimpactsofclimatechangeontheriverinthemidstofrestorationworkcurrentlyunderway.ThisnarrativeofoptimismandpositivechangeintheSt.LouisRiveriscommon,butstakeholdersholddivergentviewsonthehealthandpotentialforremediationofaquaticresourceswithinthewatershed.AbetterunderstandingofstakeholderbeliefsandperspectivesregardingtheSt.LouisRiverandbroaderwaterresourceissuescouldaidmanagersincontinuedeffortstoprotectandmanagewaterresourceswithintheSt.LouisRiverestuary.Inconsiderationofpredictedclimatechangeimpacts,stakeholders’viewsonrestorationandaquaticsystemshealthareimperativeifmanagementistobeeffectiveandsuccessful.


CaffeineandP-XanthineintheSurfaceWatersoftheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryJasminFarmakes11UWS


TheuseofcaffeineintheUnitedStatesisveryprevalent.Peopleofallagesconsumethelegalstimulant.Potentialresidualcaffeineanditsmetabolitesinwastewatereffluentcancontaminateaquaticecosystemsandgroundwatersupplies.DuetothepossibleconsequencesofresidualcaffeinecontentintheSt.LouisRiver,caffeineconcentrationisinvestigated.SeventeensampleswerecollectedfromtheSt.LouisRiverandanalyzedforcaffeineandpara-xanthinecontentusingacombinedSPE-extractionandGC/MSidentificationandquantification.


ComparisonofinFieldTurbidityReadingstoLaboratoryAnalysesofSuspendedandDissolvedSolidsTraceyLedder1,JosephRipley21LakeSuperiorNERR,2UW-Superior


TurbidityandsedimentmovementareimportanttounderstandingfunctionsintheSt.LouisRiverestuary.TheLakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReservemonitorswaterqualityatfoursitesintheestuary.Thegoalofthisprojectwastodeterminethecorrelationbetweendatasondeturbidityreadingsandthetotalsuspendedanddissolvedsolids(TSSandTDS)asfoundinthelab.Measuringsolidsanalyticallyistimeconsuming,intensive,andsensitivetoerror.Takingfieldturbiditymeasurementsontheotherhandisrelativelyquickandeasy,andallfourSWMPsitestaketurbidityreadingsevery15minutesintheicefreemonths.Therefore,itwouldbebeneficialtoestablishthecorrelationbetweenTSS/TDSandturbidity,sothatTSS/TDSconcentrationscouldbeestimatedfromfieldturbidityreadings.


ComparisonofWaterMonitoringProgramSondesMeasuringIn-vivoChlorophyllConcentrationsandLabChlorophyllaConcentrationEstimationbyFluorescenceTraceyLedder1,AdamLein21LakeSuperiorNERR,2UW-Superior


St.LouisRiverEstuarychlorophyllfluorescencewasmeasuredinthefieldandgrabsampleconcentrationsmeasuredinthelab.Theobjectivewastounderstandtherelationshipbetweeninvivosondereadingsofchlorophyllateachsiteandlaboratorychlorophyllaresultssothattheestimatesofchlorophyllfromthesondescancomplementandbecorrectedtothemoreaccuratelabchlorophyllafluorescencedatawhichismoredifficulttoobtain.Grabsamplesandduplicateswerecollectedusingawatersamplerandbroughtbackforchlorophyllaanalysesbyfluorescencetocomparetothefieldwaterqualitydatasondereadings.ItwasdeterminedPokegamaBayhadthestrongestcorrelationbetweenlabandfieldmeasurements.OliverBridge,BlatnikBridge,andBarkersIslandsitesshowedaninconclusiverelationshipwhencomparinglabandsondedata.


EarthwormInvasionandAlternateUnderstoryPlantCommunitiesinNorthernHardwoodForestsPaulOjanen1

1UniversityofMinnesota


Invasiveearthwormshavebeenlinkedtoforestunderstorycommunityalterationsinpreviouslyearthworm-freeareasofNorthAmerica.Theyacceleratelitterdecomposition,alteringnutrientflows,soilstructureandplantcommunities.White-tailedDeer(OdocoileusvirginianusZimm.)altervegetativecommunitiesbybrowsing;severityvarieswithpopulationdensityandaffectsplantcommunitycomposition.Bothfactorsareassociatedwithreducedvegetativecommunityrichnessandincreaseddominancebygraminoids.Onepreviousstudyfromtheregionestimatedearthwormpresenceorimpactsatapproximatelyeightypercentofthelandscape,whileotherstudiesshowincreasesinoverallgraminoidcoverage.Sixty-tworandomlyselectedNorthernMesicHardwoodSugarMaplesitesintheChequamegon–NicoletNationalForest,Wisconsin,weresampledforvegetation,earthwormoccurrenceandbrowsingintensity.Therelationshipbetweenearthwormpresence,white-taileddeerbrowsingandgraminoidcoverwasexaminedbyNonmetricMultidimensionalScaling(NMDS),MultipleResponsePermutationProcedure(MRPP)andIndicatorSpeciesAnalysis(ISA).Ninetypercentofsiteswerepositiveforearthworms.NMDSandMRPPindicatedivergentherbaceouslayercommunities;aspecies-poorCarexpensylvanicaLamcommunityassociatedwiththeinvasiveearthwormLumbricusrubellusHoff,andarelativelyspecies-richAcersaccharumMarsh.seedlingcommunityassociatedwithlesserearthwormimpacts.White-taileddeer(Odocoileusvirginianus)browsingwasextensive,impactingAcersaccharumregenerationandpartlydrivinggraminoiddominance.TheresultsindicateearthworminvasionisgeographicallyextensiveandaprincipaldriverofalternatestateswithCarexpensylvanicaunderstorydominanceversusAcersaccharumandassociatedspecies.


EnhancingtheLakeSuperiorNorthandSouthWatershedAssessments-RedClayBankAnalysisC.Little1,J.Jereczek11MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources


CoastalProgramstaffandDNRstaffworkedincollaborationwithDNRDivisionofForestryResourcesAssessmentProgramtoprovidecriticaldataandtoolsusefulinthedevelopmentofwatershedrestorationandprotectionstrategies(WRAPS)forthecoastalzone’stwomajorwatersheds–LakeSuperiorNorthandLakeSuperiorSouth.TheRedClayProjectwasaresearchanddemonstrationprojectcompletedin1980andsponsoredbyfivesoilandwaterconservationdistrictsfromtwostates.Thelocaldistrictsupervisorswerecommittedtothetaskofseekingpracticalsolutionstothemanyformsofredclayerosionandtheresultingwaterqualityproblems.Theoverallobjectivesofthisprojectweretodemonstrateeconomicallyfeasiblemethodsofimprovingwaterquality,toassessthecapabilitiesofexistinginstitutionstocooperativelyimplementapollutioncontrolprogramandtoprovidedataandrecommendationsthatcouldbeusedinfutureprograms.ThroughourprojectwehavemappedtheseareasandcreatedaGISlayershostedontheDNR’sGDRSbasedonhighresolutionLIDARderivetopographyandthenewSSURGOsoilsdata.Thisdatacanthenbeusedforplanning,waterqualitymanagementandapplicationofpublishedRedClaybestmanagementpractices.


EnvironmentalSurveillanceandMonitoringatSt.LouisRiverAreasofConcern:Thenextfrontierforpathway-basedhighthroughputtoxicologyAnthonySchroeder1,BrettBlackwell2,KeithHouck3,GeraldAnkley4,CarlieLaLone4,DanielVilleneuve41UniversityofMinnesota,2ORISEResearchParticipationProgram,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,3U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,4U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency


Inresponsetoaproposedstrategyfortoxicitytestinginthe21stcentury,highthroughputtoxicology(HTT)programshavetestedthousandsofchemicalsinpathway-basedbiologicalassays.ThegrowingdatabaseofHTTresultscanbeminedtoidentifytoxicologicallyrelevantbioactivitiesassociatedwithenvironmentalsamplesofunknownchemicalmixturesorwithknownchemicalsdetectedintheenvironmentviaanalyticalchemistry.PresentedherearethreestrategiesforusingHTTdatatoguideenvironmentalsurveillanceandmonitoring.Thefirstapproachinvolvescollectinguncharacterizedenvironmentalsamplesdirectly(e.g.,water,air,sediment)andtestingextractsusingHTTtoidentifybioactivitylinkedtoadverseoutcomepathways(AOPs).Thesecondapproachtakesadvantageofanalyticallydetectedchemicals,andtheutilizationoflargedatabases(i.e.,ComparativeToxicologyDatabase(CTD))toqualitativelyconnectchemicalstogenesandthereforeidentifypotentialpathwayperturbations.Thethirdapproachalsotakesadvantageofanalyticallydetectedchemicals,bututilizesthedatacurrentlyavailablefromHTTprogramstocalculateexposure:activityratios(EARs)thataccountformeasuredchemicalconcentrationsandinvitroeffectconcentrationsfromHTTprograms(suchasTox21)torankchemicalsrelativetotheirlikelihoodofcausingbiologicalresponsesinexposedorganisms.Theseapproachescanfacilitatetheabilitytoconnectchemicalconcentrationsintheenvironmentwithpotentialbiologicaleffects,andhypothesis-drivenapproachestoenvironmentalmonitoringandriskassessment.ExamplesofeachapproachrelevanttoSt.LouisRiverareasofconcernwillbepresented.ThecontentsofthisabstractneitherconstitutenornecessarilyreflectUSEPApolicy.


IdentifyingMigrationandWinteringLocationsofCommonTerns(SternaHirundo)BreedingintheLaurentianGreatLakesusingLight-levelGeolocationAnnieBracey1,2,DavidMoore3,SumnerMatteson4,FredStrand4,CynthiaPekarik5,JeffreyCosta3,GeraldNiemi1,FrancescaCuthbert21NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,2UniversityofMinnesota,3CanadianWildlifeService,EnvironmentCanada,4WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources,5CanadianWildlifeService,EnvironmentCanada


SixU.S.statesborderingtheGreatLakeshavelistedtheCommonTernasthreatenedorendangered.DeclinesincoloniesintheCanadianGreatLakesRegionwererecentlyestimatedat41%.Increasedunderstandingofmigrationandwinteringhabitatselectionandmigrationchronologyareprioritiesforthisspecies.Sightingsfromwing-taggedbirdsprovideonlylimitedinformation;bandingdataalsosupplylimitedinformationaboutmovementpatterns.Weuseddatacollectedbylight-levelgeolocatorstotrackadultsthroughtheirannualcycletoisolateimportantnon-breedinglocations.InJune2013,wedeployed20leg-mountedgeolocators(mass=0.75g)onadultsnestingonInterstateIslandintheDuluth-Superiorharbor,and30unitsonbirdsnestingonElmIsland,NorthChannelofLakeHuron.InJune2014,weretrievedsevengeolocatorsfromtheInterstateIslandcolonyand15unitsfromElmIsland.WeusedtheRpackage‘GeoLight’toestimatemovementpatternsandstopoverandwinteringlocations.Withafewexceptions,birdsshowedsimilarmigrationroutesandwinteringdistributions.Threemajorstagingperiodswereidentifiedduringmigration(1-lowerGreatLakes,2-AtlanticCoast,3-GulfofMexico).WinteringlocationsincludedCentralAmericaandthenorthandwestcoastsofSouthAmerica.TheseresultsprovidesupportforsegregationofeasternandcentralNorthAmericanbreedingpopulationsandhaveimportantimplicationsformanagementandfocusoffutureresearch.In2015,wedeployedanadditional21unitsonbirdsbreedingonInterstateIslandandinChequamegonBay,WIandplantoattachGPStagsinsummer2016toobtainhigherresolutionmovementdata.


ImpactofMicroplasticonDaphniaandAlgaeKanishkaWijesekera11UniversityofWisconsinSuperior,ChemistryDepartment


Becauseofhumans’carelessnessindailytasks,plasticisbecomingahugethreattoallkindsoflivingorganisms.Smallplasticdebris,termedmicroplastics,isawidespreadandubiquitouscontaminantofmarineandfreshwaterecosystemacrosstheglobe.Thisresearchfocusesonmicroplasticsfromcosmeticproducts.Ingestionofmicroplasticsbymarinebiota,includingfish,sealsandseabirds,hasbeenwidelyreported,buttheimpactofmicroplasticsonzooplanktonandalgae,remainunreported.Zooplanktonandalgaeareprimaryfoodsourcesforlotsofaquaticorganismsanditisimportanttodiscovertherootsofthefoodchainandhowthecontaminatedwaterwithmicroplasticisaffectedonthoseorganisms.Thisresearchhastwopurposes:OneistofindouttheimpactofingestionofmicroplasticsbyDaphniaandthesecondisanalyzingthefastadsorptionofPCBsbyalgaeandmicroplasticsfromcosmeticproduct.Forthefirstpart,Daphniahasbeenfedmicroplasticsandvideorecorded.Inthispart,wewillbeabletoknowtheretentiontimeofthesesyntheticparticlesinDaphnia.Forthesecondpartoftheexperiment,cultivatedalgaewithmicroplasticstoseethecompetitionofalgaepopulationgrowingonconstantconcentrationofmicroplastics.ThePCBsconcentrationwillbeusedasrepresentativeofpersistentorganicpollutants.


IncorporatingEcosystemServicesofaNaturalCapitaltoPerformRelativeValuationofHouseholds’Storm-inflictedHealthOutcomesunderOptimalPrivateDefensiveStrategies:AcasestudyanalysisofthecoastalBangladeshDr.SakibMahmud1,Dr.EdwardBarbier1UniversityofWisconsin-Superior


Thispaperintroducesatheoreticalmodeltoestimatehouseholdvaluationofhealthrisksfrommajorstormsgiventhepresenceofanaturalcapital,suchasthemangroveforest,andaccessibilitytopublicprograms.Anendogenousriskframeworkisdevelopedinwhichthehouseholdcanemployprivatedefensiveactivitiestoprotectagainststorm-inflictedhealthproblems.Ourtheoreticalmodelrevealspossibleestimationmethodstoderivehouseholds’marginalwillingnesstopaytoreducehealthrisksduetoanincreaseinpublicprogramsandthegreaterstormprotectionroleofmangroves.Resultsshowthatthesemarginalwillingness-to-paymeasurescanbederivedwithouttheexpectedutilitytermssincetheyareafunctionofonlypricesandtechnologicalparameters.OurempiricalanalysisofcoastalhouseholdsofBangladeshimpactedby2007CycloneSidrconfirmsthepossibleinfluenceofmangrovesinreducingstorm-inflictedinjuriesorillness.Partoftheanalysisisbasedontheindirectconsumptiveusevaluesofthemangroveforestasanaturalstormprotectionbarrieragainststorm-surgesandflooding.Probabilityofahouseholdexperiencingadversehealthimpactsfromamajorstormishigherifithasaccesstoex-postpublicdisasterreliefprogramsbutthereisconclusiveevidenceoffacingnegativehealthimpactsifahouseholdislocatedbehindanembankment.Toreducedamaginghealthoutcomesfromamajorstorm,resultsrevealthatthehouseholdsarewillingtopaythehighestamountforgreaterstormprotectionfrommangrovesfollowedbyembankmentsanddisasterreliefprograms.


LivePresentationofAquaticMacroinvertebratesRepresentativeofDegradedandNon-degradedEstuarySites:Whyis“thebenthos”soimportant?Dr.ValerieBrady1,JoshDumke1,KariHansen1,RobertHell1,MattSanto1,HollyWellardKelly11NaturalResourcesResearchInstitute,UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth


Thecompositionofmacroinvertebrateassemblagesprovidesimportantinformationabouttheenvironmentalconditionofanaquaticecosystematspecificlocationsbecausemacroinvertebratesarenotverymobile.Macroinvertebrateassemblagesfromhabitatsingoodconditiongenerallyhavehighdiversityandsupportsometaxathatareuncommonorhavealowtolerancetodisturbance,whilesamplesfromdegradedhabitatshavelowdiversityandareoftendominatedbytaxatoleranttoanthropogenicstress(e.g.,lowdissolvedoxygen,contaminatedsediment,etc.).Macroinvertebratesalsofillavitalroleinthefoodwebasintermediariesbetweenplants/algaeandfish,andcontributetonutrientrecyclingbybreakingdowndetritus.Thus,degradedmacroinvertebrateassemblages(the“benthos”)areoneoftheBeneficialUseImpairmentsthatneedtobeaddressedaspartoftheestuaryAreaofConcerndelistingprocess.WhentheSt.LouisRiverEstuary(SLRE)waslistedasanAOC,thereportnotedthatsomelocationsweredominatedbylowdiversitymacroinvertebrateassemblagesthatweretolerantoforganic(nutrient)pollutionandlowdissolvedoxygen.Thedelistingtargetistohaveallsuchdegradedareasintheestuaryregainmacroinvertebrateassemblagesthataresimilartothoseintheleast-impactedareas.Meetingthistargetrequiresfindingandsamplingthemacroinvertebrateassemblagesinthe“least-impacted”areasanddemonstratingthattheyaresimilartothoseintherestoredareas.Wewillpresentliveandpreservedmacroinvertebratesrepresentativeoftheleast-impactedanddegradedareasoftheSLREatourinteractiveboothstaffedbyNRRItaxonomists.


MarinasAssistUSFWSwithMonitoringforInvasiveMollusksGaryCzypinski1,HenryQuinlan1,RonaldNemec1,UtaKamantauskas11U.S.Fish&WildlifeService


InLakeSuperior,establishedpopulationsofinvasiveDreissenidsareknownonlytoexistintheDuluth-Superiorharbor(St.LouisRiverestuary).In2010,theU.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS)partneredwithWisconsinDNRandAshlandHighSchooltosetupacooperativeandvoluntaryarrangementwithsixmarinasfromPortWingtoAshland,Wisconsintoconductaquaticinvasivespeciesmonitoring.In2015,theUSFWSexpandedtheprojecttoincludemarinasintheDuluth-Superiorharbor.OurobjectiveistoconductearlydetectionmonitoringforinvasiveDreissenidsandothernon-nativemollusksthatmayasyetbeundetectedintheseareas.Theprojectconsistsofmollusksamplingthroughoutthesummerseasonandvesselhullobservationattheendoftheboatingseason.Todate,marinapersonnelhaveinspectednearly2,500vesselhullsuponremovalfordrydockanddetectedzebramusselsonsixvessels.HighschoolstudentsundertheguidanceoftheUSFWShavesetmodifiedHesterDendymulti-platesamplersateachofthesixdifferentmarinasaroundtheBayfieldPeninsulaandatfourmarinasintheDuluth-SuperiorharborfromJunetoOctober.Todate,oneadultzebramusselandtheinvasivefaucetsnail(Bithyniatentaculata)havebeencollectedfromplatesamplerssetinChequamegonBay.Molluskscollectedfromthesamplersduring2015arependingidentification,includingconfirmationofjuvenilezebramusselsfoundateachoftheDuluth-Superiormarinas.In2015,wereceivedseveralreportsofDreissenidmusselsinLakeSuperioroutsideoftheDuluth-Superiorharbor(pers.comm.BrendaMoraska-LaFrancois,NPSandJaredMyers,WIDNR).Heretofore,DreissenidshavebeenunsuccessfulintheirrangeexpansioninLakeSuperior,likelyduetothelowcalcium(8-17ppm).Calciumrangedfrom8-21ppmatthefourDuluth-Superiormarinas,thelowestamountatthemarinaclosesttotheDuluth-Superiorentry,andthehighestamountatthemarinafurthestupriver.ThedetectionoffaucetsnailsinChequamegonBaywasreportedtopartneragenciesandhasbeenenteredintheU.S.GeologicalSurveyNonindigenousAquaticSpeciesdatabase(http://nas.er.usgs.gov/).


NewToolsandOpportunitiestoSupportCitizenScienceintheSaintLouisRiverTomHollenhorst1,KathleenWilliams1,RichAxler2,JesseSchomberg3,GeorgeHost2,DeannaErickson41EPA,2NRRI,UMD,3MNSeaGrant,4LakeSuperiorNERR


Justwithinthelastfewyearstechnologyhasrevolutionizedthetoolsandopportunitiesavailableforcitizenscientist.Whilenoteveryoneisatrainedprofessionalscientistorengineer,everyonecancontributetoscience,engineeringandtechnologythroughopenscienceandinnovativeapproachessuchascitizenscienceandcrowdsourcingprojects.Theseprojectsmayrangefromthemoretraditionalcommunity-basedecologicalmonitoringactivitiestotheuseoftheinternetandsmartphonesto“crowdsource”datacollection,imageclassification,andchangedetection.Agencies,stateandfederalaswellasmanynon-governmentorganizationshavebeguntorealizethepotentialofcitizenscienceandcrowdsourcing,notjustforcollectingmoreinformationanddata,butalsoforengagingandenergizingthepublic’sappreciationforournaturalenvironment.Infact,insupportoftheseeffortstheWhiteHouserecentlyhostedalivewebcastoncitizensciencecalled“OpenScienceandInnovation:OfthePeople,BythePeople,ForthePeople.”Projectsthatembracetheseapproachesalsohelptheindividualswhoparticipatebycreatinglearningopportunitiesoutsidetheclassroomandprovidinghandson,engagingexperiencesinscience,technology,engineering,mathematicsandthearts.Participantsalsogainadeeper“senseofplace”oradeeperconnectiontotheircommunity,naturalenvironment,andownershipinsolutionsandrevitalizationefforts.Hereweoutlinesomeofthenewinnovativeplatformsandopportunitiesforcitizenscience,particularlyfortheSaintLouisRiverestuaryandwatershed.


Rivers2Lake:FindingaplacewithstudentsofallagesintheLakeSuperiorWatershedArielJohnson11LakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve


Rivers2LakeisaneducationprogrambasedattheLakeSuperiorNationalEstuarineResearchReserve,dedicatedtoprovidingprofessionaldevelopmenttoteachersintheLakeSuperiorwatershedinordertoincorporateinquiry-basedandoutdoor,place-basededucationasawaytobettersupporttheirstudents’learningandapplicationofskills.AsaRivers2Lakeintern,thisprovidesexperiencesworkingwithteachersthroughdevelopmentopportunitiesandexperiencesinteachingbothindoorsandoutdoorsforstudentsingradesK-12.Teachersareprovidedwithprofessionallearninginacommunityofotherteachers,non-formaleducators,andscientistsandarealsoprovidedwithresourcesandopportunitiestoengagetheirstudentsinlearning.Resourcesprovidedincludewaterqualitykits,datacollectiontools,andotherequipment.TheReserveprovidesgivesteachersopportunitiestopracticenewskillsobtainedfromprofessionaldevelopmentintheirclassrooms,withresourcesandsupportfromReservementors.StudentslearnaboutLakeSuperiorandsurroundingtributaries’historical,cultural,scientific,socialandenvironmentalimportancethroughhands-on,outdoorbasedlessonsthatrequirestudentstoexploreinformationwithguidancefromteachers.Theseexperiencescanandhaveinspiredstudents,whichcouldresultinawholenewgenerationofscientists.Notonlydoesthisprogramallowforanunderstandingoftheimportanceofthewatershed,itcreatescommitmenttostewardshipamongstudentsandteachers.ThispresentationdisplaystheuniqueandrewardingopportunityIhadtoobtainin-the-fieldskillsinenvironmentaleducationthroughhelpingeducatorsandstudentsinlearningabouttheLakeSuperiorWatershedwhilebeinganinternintheRivers2Lakeprogram.


St.LouisRiverAlliance-AquaticInvasiveSpeciesSentryProgram:AddressingAquaticInvasiveSpecies(AIS)educationandpublicawarenessintheSt.LouisRiverincludingwatersofSt.LouisCountyJillDiDomenico


AISarenon-nativeaquaticplants,animalsandpathogensthatcauseecologicalandeconomicharm.In2014,theStateofMinnesotabeganauthorizingfundingtoallMinnesotaCountiestoprevent,slowandreducetheimpactsofAIS.In2015St.LouisCountylaunchedanAISPreventionPlantoaddressAISinSt.LouisCounty.Actionsaddressedintheplanincludeeducation/publicawarenessofAIS.AsstatedintheSt.LouisCountyPlan,theSt.LouisRiveris“groundzero”fortheintroductionofAIS,duetotheshippingindustry.ThethreatstillexistsfornewAIStoentertheriver/estuarythroughballastwaterexchange.TheSt.LouisRiverAlliance’sAISSentryProgramwilleducateandempowercommunitymembersonidentifyingAISalreadyfoundintheriveralongwithpotentialnewAISthroughclassroomandfieldworkshops.Theprogramwillfocuson23priorityspecieslistedintheSt.LouisCountyAISPreventionPlan.Paddlersandrecreationalboatersarethetargetaudience.Participantsintheprogramwilllearnhowtoidentify,andsurveyforthepresence/absenceofAISinSt.LouisCountywaters.Theprogramwillalsoincludethesurveyingof“non-native”phragmitesalongtheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryAOC.TheAISSentryProgramwilleducateinits1styear100communitymembersonAISthroughoutSt.LouisCountyprovidingafirstlineofdefenseagainstprevention,spreadandrapidresponse.


St.LouisRiverEstuaryBottomTrawlingSurveyNickBogyo1

11854TreatyAuthority


Ruffe(Gymnocephaluscernuus),anexoticpercidnativetoEurope,wereconfirmedintheSt.LouisRiverEstuary(SLRE)in1987.Inresponse,theU.S.GeologicalSurvey(thenUSFWS)initiatedregularbottomtrawlingsurveysin1989todocumentchangesinabundanceanddistributionofruffeandnativefishes.Thosesurveyscontinuedatleastannuallythrough2004,afterwhichalackoffundingledtothesurveybeingdiscontinued.In2010,the1854TreatyAuthorityobtainedfundingtoresumethesurveyonanannualbasis.Surveyprotocolisnearlyidenticaltowhatwasoriginallyimplementedandfollowedsince1989.Eachsurveyconsistsof40randomlyselectedfive-minutetowsthatcoverthreedifferentstratabasedprimarilyondepth(<3m,3-9m,>9m)andbottomdisturbance(shallowflats,undredgedororiginalriverchannel,dredgedshippingchannels).Ourthreemaingoalsforcontinuationofthesurveyare:1)monitoringtrendsinabundanceanddistributionofthenativeandnon-nativefishcommunities;2)surveillancefornewexoticintroductions;and3)usethesurveyasameansofdocumentingsuccessfullakesturgeonreproduction.Abriefbackgroundofthesurvey,methods,historicalandrecentresults,andfutureplanswillbepresented.


TheComplexitiesofSedimentRemediationofSlipsintheDuluthSuperiorHarborLaRaeLehto1,BryanMurdock1,ChadScott1,TedSmith1,DougOlson1

1AMIConsultingEngineers


Remediationofcontaminatedsedimentsinopenwaterisacomplexandintensiveoperation.Thepresenceofadjacentindustrialactivitiesonland,varieddockwallandpierdesign,utilityentriesintoslips,andaginginfrastructure,eachcomplicatethedesignofaneffectiveremediationstrategy.Slip2isoneofeightslipsintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcern(AOC)impairedbylegacycontaminationfromindustrialandmunicipalwastes,andharmfullandusepractices.SoilsamplestakenfrombehindthedockwalloftheadjacentPierBsitecontainedasbestosandexceededMPCAsoilreferencevaluesforarsenic,mercury,semi-volatileorganiccompounds(SVOCs),anddieselrangeorganics(DRO).Diveinspectionsrevealedextensivefailuresintheexistingdockwalls,leavingvoidswherecontaminatedsitesoilsleechedintoSlip2andoutintoLakeSuperior.Theconventionalmethodofslipremediationbydredgingtoremovecontaminatedsedimentwouldhavefurtherdeepenedtheslip,causingcompletefailureoftheadjacentdockwallsandacceleratedleechingofcontaminatedsoilintoSlip2.AMIconsultingEngineersdevelopedaphasedapproachfortheremediationofSlip2,couplingtheremediationoftheslipwiththatoftheadjacentpier.ExcavationandremovalofcontaminatedsoilfromalongthedockwallandrepairstothedockwallsystemwerecriticaltothelongtermsuccessoftheSlip2sedimentremediation.TheremediationstrategyandlessonslearnsfromSlip2shouldserveasamodelforfutureslipremediationeffortsintheSt.LouisRiverAreaofConcern.


TheSocialScienceforBuildingCommunitySupporttoAchieveScientificandEconomicResultsintheSt.LouisRiverEstuaryKrisEilers11St.LouisRiverAlliance


TheSt.LouisRiverAllianceistakingtheleadonaCleanWaterprojectthatwillengageourcommunityinthelargestclean-upeffortintheSt.LouisRiverEstuarysincethe1970’s.Thenextphaseoftheremedialactionplanistomanageuptotensitesthathavebeenidentifiedashavingcontaminatedsediments.Forthefirsttime,strategicpartnershipsanddedicatedfederalfundingarelineduptomakethisrestorationpossible.Thereisasmallwindowofopportunitytosupportthishighpriorityagencyrequesttosecurefundingforthisprojectthroughthegovernor’sbondingbill.InordertobuildacoalitionofsupportTheSt.LouisRiverAllianceiscapturingtheenergyandvaluesofdiverseentitieswhichareoftentimesatodds.Inordertotranslatethatenergytolegislatorsatthecapitol,theAllianceisusinglongstandingrelationshipstounitebusinessesandcitizensintheirlovefortheRiverandLakeSuperioracrossthestatetofinallygetthisworkdone.Thisinitiativeisimperativeforavibrant,healthyestuaryandwillpropelusintoanewgenerationofeconomicvitality.


ToxicBiologicalAccumulatesFoundinLakeSuperiorFreshwaterFish:SharedvisionsforhumansintheenvironmentKelseyGunvalson1

1PrograminEnvironmentandSustainability:UniversityofMinnesota,Duluth


LakeSuperiorprovidesmanyecosystemservices.ThehealthandwellbeingofpeopleisimpactedbyexposuresofthebioaccumulatesthatcyclethroughLakeSuperioranditsbiota.Inparticular,somefreshwaterfishcontainshighlevelsofmethylmercury.Impactsarenotequallydistributedinourpopulation.Thesetoxinshavetheabilitytotravelwithinourhumangenomeacrossgenerations.ThisposterexploreshumansintheenvironmentinLakeSuperiorandcontributestoasharedvisionforthehealthofLakeSuperiorandallthatdependsonitsecosystemservices.


TurbidityReducingBestManagementPracticesfor21stAvenueWestEmbaymentandBeyondMollieMahoney11USACEDetroitDistrict


Withnearly40milliontonsofcommercialcargoshippedandreceivedeachyear,Duluth-SuperiorHarboristhelargestportontheGreatLakesandthe17thlargestportinthecountry.TheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE)isresponsibleforoperatingandmaintainingover18milesofFederalNavigationchannelintheHarborandindoingsomustremoveapproximately110,000cubicyardsofsedimentfromnavigationchannelonanannualbasis.Thesedimentremovedfromthefederalnavigationchannelrangesfromcoarsesandtofineorganicmaterialandover95%ofitissuitableforbeneficialusessuchashabitatenhancement,shoreprotection,andconstructionfill.ThedredgedmaterialremovedbyUSACEtokeepthefederalnavigationchannelsopenforshippinghasbeenbeneficiallyusedinthe21stAvenueWestEmbaymentinsupportofhabitatenhancementsince2013.OverthelastthreeyearsUSACE,withthesupportoftheGreatLakesRestorationInitiative,hasgathereddataonturbidityintheEmbaymentduringdredgematerialplacementinanefforttodeterminetheefficacyofturbidityreducingbestmanagementpractices(BMPs).Asaresult,USACEhasdevelopedadashboardofBMPsforturbidityreductionthatcanbeusedfordredgematerialplacementinthe21stAvenueWestEmbaymentandfutureinwaterplacementsitesintheharborandacrosstheGreatLakes.


UrbanWetlandBasinforImprovedWaterQuality,WildlifeHabitatandPublicGreenSpaceAdaTse11CityofSuperiorESD


TheCityofSuperiorisconstructingawetlandstormwaterbasintotreatrunoffforbothpeakflowsandtoimprovewaterqualityintheCentralBusinessDistrict.ItwillbelocatedadjacenttoPoplarAvenueand12thStreet,roughly0.5milesfromtheSuperiorBayoftheSt.LouisRiver.Thestormwaterbasinwilltreat110acresofstormwaterfromPoplarAveandthehighlyurbanizedBelknapStreetwatershedbeforethewaterentersasmallcreek,whichdrainstotheSuperiorBay.Ourprojectwillincorporate“naturalizeddetention”toaddaestheticsandbiologicalcomponenttothetraditionalwaterqualitybasin,whilepreservingthebasichydraulicsandmaintainabilityofthearea.Thegentlyslopingshorelineandnativeplantingswillbeawelcomingplaceforwildlifetocongregateandaplaceforthepublictoenjoy.


Weather,Water,andPeople:Interactiveweb-baseddatavisualizationsfordiscoveryanddecision-makingRichardAxler1,NormWill1,GeorgeHost1,TerryBrown1,TomHollenhorst21UMN-Duluth,NRRI,2U.S.EPA,MidContinentEcologyLab

February3,2016,4:40PM-5:45PMCoastalcommunitiesacrossthenorthernGreatLakesareincreasinglyfacing‘tippingpoints’–withwaterqualitydegradedbynutrientandorganicmatterinputs;fishcommunitieschallengedbyhightemperature,lowoxygen,lowflows,excessivesedimentandsalt,andinvasivespecies;beachesunswimmableduetoE.coliadvisories;andcostlyTMDLs,remediation,andrestorationstrategies.Betterenvironmentaldecision-makingbyoursocietyrequiresabetterinformedgeneralpublic,decisionmakers,businesses,andresourcemanagers.Overthepast18years,withmanypartners,wehavedevelopedasuiteofweb-baseddatavisualizationanddecisionsupporttoolsforlakes,streams,andwatershedstargetingawiderangeofstakeholderstoallowuserstoexploreandvisualizecomplexenvironmentaldatasets.Thetoolsenableusersto“see”howwaterbodiesrespondtonaturalandhumancauseddisturbancesandtopursueindependentexplorationofthedata.Currentdownloadabledatastories(vignettes),scenariotools,andnewtoolsunderdevelopmentfortheSt.LouisRiverregionwillbedemonstrated.


WhenTeachingGetsRuffeinLakeSuperior:RufferesearchandoutreachMichelleGutsch1,Dr.JoelHoffman2,Mrs.CynthiaHagley6,Mrs.SamanthaSmingler5,Dr.RichardRicketts4,Mrs.NadineMeyer3,Mr.AaronSalmela71UniversityofMinnesotaDuluth,2EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,3FrontenacStatePark,4LargeLakeObservatory/UMD,5GreatLakesAquarium,6MinnesotaSeaGrant,7DuluthAreaPublicSchools


Preventingintroductionsandmanaginginvasivespeciesrequiresecologicalresearchandmonitoring,butitisalsoessentialthatthepublicbothunderstandstheimportanceoftheresearchandknowsenoughaboutinvasivespeciestohelppreventtheirspread.Asapartofthismission,weinvolvedscienceeducatorsinnon-nativespeciesresearch,withthegoalofincreasingtheircapacitytoteachaboutGreatLakesecologyandresearch.Asecondarygoalwastoimprovescientists’andgraduatestudents’skillsatexplainingthebroaderimpactsoftheirwork.WebuiltonasuccessfulpartnershipcalledShipboardSciencesponsoredbytheCenterforGreatLakesLiteracy(CGLL)andMNSeaGrant.Forthefieldresearch,agraduatestudentledtheplanningandimplementationofthiseffortandwasthechiefscientistfortworesearchcruiseswherescientistsandeducatorsworkedside-by-sidetolearnsamplingtechniquesandcollectdatafortheproject.Thesamegraduatestudentorganizedthelaboratoryexperience(called“Dig-in-Day”)fortheeducators.Finally,wehelpedteachersdevelopaprojectideatoincorporatetheirknowledgeintotheclassroom.Attherequestoftheteachers,theleadgraduatestudentprovidedGreatLakesscienceoutreachatfourhighschools,threemiddleschools,andtwoelementaryschools.Further,weprovidedscienceandcurriculumsupportthroughouttheschoolyear,culminatingintheGreatLakesAwarenessDayatwhichtheeducatorsandtheirstudentssharedtheirresultswithscientistsandothers.Theresultsofthisoutreachprojecthavefacilitatedthecompilationofalistofscientistswillingtoparticipateinfutureeducationaloutreach.

6th Annual St. Louis River Summit | S H A R I N G O U R V I S I O N S

TIME SESSION PRESENTER TITLE

Facilitator: Erika Washburn, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (LS Reserve)

8:30 Welcome Erika Washburn, Reserve Manager, LS Reserve

8:40 Opening Remarks Dr. Faith Hensrud, Provost, University of Wisconsin-Superior Tom Fennessey, President, Superior City Council Emily Larson, Mayor, City of Duluth

9:30 Howard’s Charge John Lindgren

Minnesota DNR Special Recognition

9:35 Keynote

Jerry Hembd University of Wisconsin-Superior Department of Business and Economics

John Austin Michigan Economic Center and the Brookings Institution

Keynote Introduction

Water is our Past - Water is our Future: How the Great Lakes Region's Water-rich Location and Water Innovation Can Drive a New, Growing Blue Economy

10:35 Break – The Landing

11:00

Habitat & Resiliency

Jodi Slick Ecolibrium3

Big Water Minnesota: An Introduction to Minnesota’s Integrated Approach to Building Resilience to Climate Change in Duluth, MN

11:20 Dr. Christine Custer US Geological Survey

Environmental Contaminants in Nesting Swallows Along the St Louis River, MN and WI

11:40 Joseph Kreitinger US Army Research and Development Center

Design Considerations to Reduce Toxicity and Bioaccumulation Risk at Aquatic Habitat Restoration Sites in the St Louis River Estuary

12:00

Lunch, Networking, and Posters 12:30 Great Lakes DIVER (Rm. 204)

Great Lakes Data Integration Visualization, Exploration and Reporting (GL DIVER) System: Future of Great Lakes data management

1:30

AOC

Kris Eilers St. Louis River Alliance Sharing Our Vision for the St. Louis River Estuary

1:45 Matt Steiger Wisconsin DNR Progress on BUIs and Opportunities for Engagement

2:00 Tom Howes Fond du Lac Resource Management

Wild Rice Restoration

2:15 Dan Breneman Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Minnesota’s Restoration Project

2:30 Molly Wick Wisconsin DNR Wisconsin’s Restoration Projects


3:20

AOC

Mike Bares Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contaminated Sediment Management

3:40 Joe Graham Wisconsin DNR

Sediment Quality in Wisconsin

4:00 John Lindgren Minnesota DNR

Sharing Our Roles in Achieving the Vision of a Healthy St. Louis River Estuary

4:30 Closing Remarks Erika Washburn

4:40 Poster Session with appetizers and cash bar - The Landing

6:00 Adjourn – Dinner On Your Own

7:00 River Talks: Natalie Warren (Held at Swenson Hall, First Floor, Erlenbach Lecture Hall)

AGENDA Wednesday, February 3, 2016 UW-Superior Great Room, 2nd Floor

#SLRSummit2016

AGENDA Thursday, February 4, 2016 UW-Superior Great Room, 2nd Floor

Please complete an evaluation of the 2016 St. Louis River Summit. The results will be used to help the planning committee make informed decisions regarding future Summits.

goo.gl/5qI8jt Please return all nametags to the front desk. We hope to see you again next year!

TIME SESSION PRESENTER TITLE

Facilitator: David Bolgrien, US EPA

8:30 Welcome David Bolgrien US EPA

Welcome

8:40 Opening Remarks John Downing Minnesota Sea Grant

A New Vision from Minnesota Sea Grant’s Director

9:00

Human Connections

Heather Stirratt NOAA Office of Coastal Management

NOAA's Office of Coastal Management Habitat Blueprint and Stakeholder Engagement

9:20 Erika Washburn LS Reserve

People & Places Forum: Building a Network for Collaboration with those in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Health Fields

9:40 Katie Williams US EPA

Tapping into Community Wisdom and Integrating Local Knowledge into Revitalization Efforts

10:00 Dr. Jennifer Moore University of Minnesota Duluth

One River, Many Stories: Community Engagement through Media Collaboration


10:50

Human Connections

Tonia Kittleson Minnesota Environmental Consortium

American Rivers Most Endangered Rivers of 2015: How the St. Louis Made the List, Why that Matters, and What's Next

11:10 Cindy Hakala IDA Dark Sky Duluth

Welcome to the Dark Side: An Introduction to Light Pollution in the Twin Ports

11:30 Deanna Erickson LS Reserve

An Evaluation of the Rivers2Lake Education Program

11:50 Curtis Sedlacek US Army Corps of Engineers

The Buried Past: Why Cultural Resources Within the St. Louis River Area of Concern Matter for Environmental Restoration

12:10 Lunch, Networking, and Posters 12:40 Community Vessel Workshop Update (Room 204)

1:40

Environmental Indicators

Adam Mednick University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute

Virtual Beach: Using Free Data and Tools to Help Inform Beach Remediation Efforts in the St Louis River Area Of Concern

2:00 Meagan Aliff Natural Resource Research Institute A Method for Ballast Water Risk-release Assessment for Protists

2:20 Elizabeth Alexson University of Minnesota Duluth

Long-term Diatom Records Support Delisting Efforts of the St. Louis River Estuary


3:10 Environmental

Indicators

Sarah Glesner St. Louis River Alliance

The Phragmites Puzzle: Team Management of an Aquatic Invasive Species in the St. Louis River Estuary

3:30 Bryn Evans Wisconsin DNR

Camera and Plane Surveys Assessing the Response of Semi-aquatic Mammals to Remediation of the St. Louis River Area of Concern

3:50 Closing Remarks: Sharing Our Visions David Bolgrien

4:00 Adjourn

6th Annual St. Louis River Summit | S H A R I N G O U R V I S I O N S #SLRSummit2016

https://goo.gl/5qI8jt



The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), established by Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, as amended. Additional information about the system can be obtained from the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1305 East West Highway - N/ORM5, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

An AA/EEO employer, University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements

2016 SPONSORS

2016 PLANNING COMMITTEE

Dale Bergeron, Minnesota Sea Grant David Bolgrien, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gene Clark, Wisconsin Sea Grant Sarah Congdon, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research ReserveElla Cross, University of Wisconsin-Superior Nick Danz, University of Wisconsin-Superior Val Damstra, Northland CollegeDiane Desotelle, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Deanna Erickson, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Gail Epping Overholt, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Cherie Hagen, Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesKari Hedin, Fond du Lac Resource Management Karen Heikel, University of Wisconsin-Superior

Matt Hudson, Northland College John Jereczek, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Zachary Jorgenson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tracey Ledder, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Julie O’Leary, University of Wisconsin-Superior Becky Sapper, University of Wisconsin-ExtensionKelly Schelander-Pugh, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Shon Schooler, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Matt Steiger, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Erika Washburn, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Katie Williams, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Marie Zhuikov, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Learn more at lsnerr.uwex.edu/LakeSuperiorReserve

Solid Solutions for a Fluid Industry

http://lsnerr.uwex.edu

https://www.facebook.com/lakesuperiorreserve/

http://www.doa.state.wi.us/divisions/intergovernmental-relations//Wisconsin-Coastal-Management

6 annual louis river summit - lake superior national ... · 2016 st.louis river summit 9...

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