Join them live through a video webcasts September 29, 30 and October 1 http://epa.gov/greatlakes/live

Lake Michigan: State of the Lake and Great Lakes Beach Association Full agenda: http://aqua.wisc.edu/SOLM/

9:30 - 11:30 am Welcome and Opening Remarks

11:30 am – 1:00 The Collaboration Challenge, Maximizing the Economic Possibilities, Paul Linzmeyer and Sammis White

1:00 - 3:20 Rapid Assessment Methods and Predictive Models for Beach Management Moderator: Tom Edge

3:20 - 4:20 Socio-Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure and LowImpact Development Moderator: Patty O'Donnell

Wednesday, September 30

7:30 - 9:40 Pathogens and QMRA Moderator: Sheridan Kidd Haack

10:00 - 12:00 Nutrient Management, TMDLs and Bacterial Source Tracking Moderators: Michael Sadowsky and Dean Maraldo

12:00-1:00 Milwaukee's Sustainable Future, Kevin Shafer, Director, Milwaukee MSD

1:00 - 1:40 Nutrient Management, TMDLs and Bacterial Source Tracking - Continued

1:40 - 4:20 Beach Restoration and Stormwater Management Session Chair:  Julie Kinzelman

Thursday, October 1

U.S. Areas of Concern Annual Meeting: Implementing Restoration Targets and Achieving On-The-Ground Results for the Great Lakes Full agenda: http://www.glc.org/rap/aocconference

9:00 - 9:30 Welcome and Opening remarks

9:30 - 10:45 Status Report on the U.S. Areas of Concern Program

11:00 - 12:00 President Obama's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Implications for Lake Michigan and the AOCs, Todd Ambs

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Requirements: player for windows media files

More information: http://epa.gov/greatlakes/live

Presentations from the State and Tribal Habitat/Species Workshops
conducted in 2008 and 2009 as part of the Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration's Habitat/Wetlands Initiative are now available online at:
http://glrc.us/initiatives/wetlands/Workshops2008-2009.html.

As a side note: I thought everyone would be interested in reading this news release. Auctioning water in our lifetime…who would have thought it.

First Calif. auction will occur this fall (09/24/2009)

In what is believed to be an unprecedented move, a Southern California water agency plans to auction off enough water in the Chino Basin this fall to supply about 70,000 homes for a year.

"Water in general has always been a very low-priced commodity, and I think the reality is, it's going to start catching up with other utilities. It's going to fluctuate with markets," said Ken Manning, chief executive of Chino Basin Watermaster, a quasi-public entity that manages the basin. "Whether that's right or wrong, I don't know. I just know where it's going."

Water sales are not uncommon in the state, especially in times of drought. But the water auction appears to be the first of its kind.

The Chino Basin is one of the largest groundwater basins in Southern California.

So far, there are expected to be three types of bidders, according to Manning: local water agencies, Southland developers who under state law must show there is enough water to supply new projects and private investment groups that deal in natural resources.

Chino Basin Watermaster plans to auction a total of 36,000 acre-feet, sold in four blocks, in the online auction, which will take place in November.

Manning said he believes the water will go for between $800 and $1,000 an acre-foot, or roughly $30 million. Underground storage in the basin will cost another $30 million.

"We think we're offering a reliable product. It's in the ground. So it will demand a higher price," he said (Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 24). – JK

Keeping You Informed CLR Marine