Climate Change to have Marked Effects on Midwest According to New Report

ANN ARBOR—Climate change will lead to more frequent and more intense Midwest heat waves while degrading air and water quality and threatening public health. Intense rainstorms and floods will become more common, and existing risks to the Great Lakes will be exacerbated.

Those are some of the conclusions contained in the Midwest chapter of a draft report released last week by the federal government that assesses the key impacts of climate change on every region in the country and analyzes its likely effects on human health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture, forests, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Three University of Michigan researchers were lead convening authors of chapters in the 1,100-plus-page National Climate Assessment, which was written by a team of more than 240 scientists.

In the Midwest, extreme rainfall events and floods have become more common over the last century, and those trends are expected to continue, causing erosion, declining water quality and negative impacts on transportation, agriculture, human health and infrastructure, according to the report.

Climate change will likely worsen a host of existing problems in the Great Lakes, including changes in the range and distribution of important commercial and recreational fish species, increases in invasive species, declining beach health, and more frequent harmful algae blooms. However, declines in ice cover on the Great Lakes may lengthen the commercial shipping season.

The draft National Climate Assessment report is available at http://ncadac.globalchange.gov. A summary of associated technical input papers is available at www.glisa.umich.edu. Public comment on the draft report will be accepted through April 12.  The U of M news release is at http://www.ns.umich.edu/new/releases/21105-climate-change-to-profoundly-affect-the-midwest-new-report-says

ISEA and the Leelanau Conservancy will host a public seminar on climate change and invasive species on May 4, 3 pm at the Suttons Bay High School Auditorium.  More details on this event will be available soon.

Work on Motor Whaleboat Continues

ISEA's 1968 Ex-Navy Motor Whaleboat under restoration:

Terry and Scott taping the waterline 

Scraping the old paint off a floorboard: Larry & Tony

Bill - making pram parts

Applying primer to interior

Terry and Scott applying the first top coat ("ISEA Green")

If you would like to help with the Whaleboat project or the Pram Building Class, contact Chuck Dickerson, ISEA Boat Shop Lead Instructor at 231-271-3077.

Inland Seas Seminar to Feature Spawning Reefs of Grand Traverse Bay

Randy Claremont from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be at ISEA Tuesday evening  to discuss the on-going efforts to restore critical fish spawning reefs in Grand Traverse Bay. Several methods used to reduce predation by invasive species will be presented.  You will enjoy the great underwater video of the reef off Elk Rapids. 

The Rusty Crawfish....What Can Be Done to Protect Native Fishes?  

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Please join us at 7pm at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay Michigan. Please call our offices at 231.271.3077 for more information.

Invasive Species Live Web Broadcast on Tuesday, January 15th

Detroit Public Television and The Nature Conservancy invite you to participate in a special broadcast seminar on Tuesday, January 15th, from 10am to 12 noon. The broadcast will feature representatives from science, business, and government throughout the Great Lakes region including:


Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee

Kathryn Buckner, President, Council of Great Lakes Industries

Lindsay Chadderton, Director, Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species, The Nature Conservancy

Patrick Doran, Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan

Matt Doss, Policy Director, Great Lakes Commission

Marc Gaden, Great Lakes Fisheries Commission

Hugh MacIsaac, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Chair, Invasive Species Research, University of Windsor

Phil Moy, Assistant Director for Research and Outreach, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Paul Pacholski, President, Ohio-Lake Erie Charter Boat Association

Great Lakes Now Connect: Invasive Species will be broadcast on DPTV Channel 56.2* and will be streamed online at www.GreatLakesNow.org. A live discussion will take place simultaneously on Twitter through hashtag #GreatLakes.

Invasive Round Goby Caught on the Schoolship

Join us at the Inland Seas Education Center Tuesday at 10 am to watch this broadcast.  Or watch it at home at http://www.greatlakesnow.org/2013/01/live-stream-great-lakes-now-connect/

Inland Seas Featured in Grand Traverse Insider Article

ISEA received some great recognition from the Grand Traverse Insider this past week.  Click here to read the article.  Thanks to Sandra Bradshaw for the nice article.

  Capt. Tom and Capt. Ben pose for Sandra Bradshaw's camera.

Tug Karen Andrie Visits Suttons Bay

With gale warnings up on Lake Michigan, the tug Karen Andrie with the barge Endevour has sought shelter in Suttons Bay.  This combination is being held in place with a 5,000 pound anchor.

-T. Kelly

2013 Volunteer Instructor Training to Start this Saturday, January 5th

Inland Seas Education Association's Volunteer Instructor Training Class begins this Saturday at NMC's  Great Lakes Maritime Academy/Water Studies Institute, Traverse City, Room 112, at 9 am.  No prior teaching or science experience is needed.  Sign up now or just show up.  Click here for complete details. 

Schoolship Instructor Nancy Powers Teaching the Fish Station

Inland Seas Underway in Little Travese Bay Last Season.