There are several ongoing efforts at both the University of Michigan and in Federal and state facilities in the Ann Arbor area that would provide critical synergies with the monitoring program. We will coordinate and integrate with these efforts.

Ecological Forecasting (ECOFOR)
Hypoxia Assessment in Lake Erie
This $2.5M, 5-year modeling study, funded by NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, began this year with the objective of this project is model the effects of land-use change on phosphorus loads, evaluate the three potential causes of the return of Lake Erie hypoxia (phosphorus loads, climate change, and dreissenid introduction), and predict the effects of hypoxia on fisheries. As PI for ECOFOR and this proposed effort, Dr. Scavia will ensure coordination.

Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)
Great Lakes
This $2.5M, 5-year effort to foster integration of ocean and Great Lakes research into high quality education materials, provide educators with an enhanced capacity to understand and deliver high-quality educational Great Lakes and ocean science programs, and provide material to the public. COSEE already has a working program with the Lake Guardian and as PI for COSEE and this proposed effort, Dr. Scavia will work closely with the COSEE Program DIrector, Dr. Fortner to ensure coordination.

International Field Years on Lake Erie (IFYLE)
The objectives of this Lake Erie field program are to 1) quantify the timing, duration, and spatial extend of hypnoxia, 2) measure its ecological consequences on the food web, and 3) identify the factors that control the timing, extend, and duration of HAB formation.

USGS Fish Monitoring
USGS routinely monitors forage fish stocks in every Great Lake each fall, and they have offered to find ways to coordinate data analysis and interpretation efforts (See letter of support from Dr. Leon Carl, USGS Great Lakes Science Center Director). This will provide us with an outstanding opportunity to relate zooplankton abundance to an index of recruitment for these important fishes. Drs. Madenjian and Schaeffer have indicated interest in pursuing this research alternative, which has not been previously examined.

MDNR Surveys
Fisheries Division
The Fisheries Division of MDNR cooperates in an extensive, vessel-based monitoring and research program related to key fishes of 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, and they have offered to work with us to find ways to integrate our efforts, particularly focused on identifying classifications for nearshore and open water habitats (see letter of support from Dr. Paul Seelbach, Fisheries Research Manager).

Great Lakes Geographic Information Systems (GLGIS)
The Great Lakes GIS is a decision spport system designed to provide Great Lakes resource scientists and managers with an inventory of basin-wide aquatic resources in a spatial context. Extensive GIS projects exist for Lakes Michigan, Erie, and Huron, and will be completed for LakeSuperior and Ontario by December 2007. The database can be distributed individually or collectively, facilitating a basin-wide, holistic approach, and will be served in the future via the internet. The Great Lakes GIS is located at the University of Michigan and is directed by SNRE research scientist Dr. Edward Rutherford. It is funded by US Fish and Wildlife Service through 2007, and by Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division through 2010. We propose to coordinate with these effords and possibly store and distribute biological data collected through the GLNPO monitoring program.


Watershed Assessments in Great Lakes Basin
Several watershed assessments and projects are based at SNRE, on the campus of the University of Michigan. SNRE is the center for this type of analysis and currently is the repository and processing center for benthic databases from MI, WI, and IL. We will coordinate with these efforts in order to better link Great Lakes assessments and sample processing to regional watershed assessments.

The University of Michigan (UofM)
A Graduate Course in Great Lakes Science and Management
As a part of campus-wide initiative to strengthen Great Lakes research and education at the University of Michigan, Drs. Wilson and Scavia are offering a new Great Lakes course that will provide several opportunities to engage students in analysis and discussing results from the monitoring program, and will complement student training.