2009-2010 Great Lakes Seminar Series: "Aquatic Plant Survey of Grand Traverse Bay" March 9, 2010
The Inland Seas Education Association will present a seminar that focuses on aquatic plants found in Grand Traverse Bay at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay. The program will be presented by Sarah U’Ren, Program Director at The Watershed Center-Grand Traverse Bay. This seminar is free and open to the public.During the summer of 2009, the Watershed Center conducted a macrophyte bed survey of Grand Traverse Bay, utilizing aerial photography and their Bay Monitor tugboat. Macrophytes include rooted aquatic plants such as milfoil and algae such as Chara. Additionally, a variety of water quality and sediment tests at various bed locations were conducted to analyze for nutrients such as phosphorus.
Results from this study show a marked increase in the number of beds compared to previous surveys conducted in 1991 and 1998. The study also provides baseline data that will help ascertain the link between macrophyte bed growth, phosphorus cycling, and invasive mussels, as well as any connection to avian botulism.
Sarah U’Ren holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland and has been Program Director at the Watershed Center since 2002. U’Ren authored the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan and administers its many grant-related programs. She also directs the Watershed Center’s beach and volunteer monitoring programs, and launched their Stream Search program in 2003.
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