Lake Erie Millennium Network (LEMN) http://www.LEMN.org Binational Network - formed November 1998

Convening Organizations:F.T. Stone Lab - Ohio State University (Jeff Reutter)NWRI - Environment Canada (Chris Marvin)Large Lakes Research lab - US EPA (Russ Kreis)GLIER - University of Windsor (Jan Ciborowski)

Sponsors: Federal, State, Provincial, Regional organizations

Collaborators: Groups active in research/information exchange

What Originally Prompted the Network?

Researchers: Limited research funding sources (lake-wide questions need collaborative, multidisciplinary expertise)

Agencies: LaMPs mandated to ask questions, but poor link between mandates & research knowledge base. (recent research findings & tools)

Public: uninformed lobbying for changes in management strategies to resolve ‘crises’

Goal: Develop an open, inclusive, binational framework toa) address management needsb) understand the ecosystemc) communicate research findings/needs

Coordination

Advisory Committee (representatives of Sponsoring Agencies)

CoChairs (2 in US; 2 in Canada) at4 nodal institutions: (2 univ.; 2 gov’t research labs)

Agency working personnel Univ. & lab researchers(issues/problems) (processes/unknowns)

Larger Lake Erie Community (conferences; reports; proposals)

Coordination

CoChairs

Agency working personnel Univ. & lab researchers Suite of prevailing issues Suite of research issues

LEMN Biennial Conferences Lake status; Suite of combined needs

Research Definition workshops Status of issues; Coordinated research proposals

Strategy1. document research & management needs of users and agencies

Prevailing Issues Workshop 1.0 – November 1998 - identify major questions and management issues

Outcome: list and classification of needs: - 48 separate topics in 7 subject areas workshop themes

Prevailing Issues Review Workshop – June 2006 - 10 topics reduced in priority (+ ‘Y2K’ problem solved) - 17 additional topics; 2 new subject areas (communication) - higher priority theme: watershed impacts on lake condition

Prevailing Issues Review Workshop – Spring 2014- evaluate current priorities; identify emerging priorities- continue focus on indicators of priorities

LEMN Prevailing Issues Workshop - 27-28 June 2006

Tasks

1. Review priorities assigned by preliminary assessment.

2. Breakout group discussions (major concern/minor concern) to summarize a) what would be an appropriate indicator of the status of the issue? [acceptable amount/extent; unacceptable amount/extent] b) what information do we need to adequately monitor the issue (needs/frequency)? c) what information would we need to properly understand the issue? d) what information would we need to solve the issue? e) what new tools approaches do we need to address the issue?

GroupContaminantsEutrophication & ProductionHabitat & Land use/land changeInvasive speciesEcosystem processesAll others (Communication; Human Health; Policy)

Strategy

2. Binational Conferences (1999; 2001; 2003; 2006; 2008; 2010; 2013)

- 30-45 invited speakers + contributed posters; 175 attendees- no concurrent sessions- compile current knowledge of Lake Erie processes- forecast trends for the next 3-5 years- identify critical research gaps- take stock: - what do we know?

- what do we understand? - what do we need to know/understand?

Outcomes:- “Research Needs” workshops --> summarize consensus on the 7 subject areas- status reports & proposals- collaborative research teams

Transport Questions (Dynamics)movement “from” . . .. . .”to”

• Agricultural lands to tributaries • Urban Rural lands to tributaries •Tributaries to lake • Coastal margin to offshore • West to Central to East basin • Export to Niagara River• Sediments to water (int. loading)

Materials of interest:- Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)- ‘Biomass’ (Cyanobacteria, Cladophora, fish)- Water (hydrology)- Contaminants (legacy, emerging)- Aquatic Invasive species- ‘heat’ [timing and amount of warming]

Transport Questions (Dynamics)movement “from” . . .. . .”to”

Active Groups• Agricultural lands to tributaries (GLRI projects)• Urban Rural lands to tributaries •Tributaries to lake (GLNI, Heidelberg)• Coastal margin to offshore (Nearshore framework)• West to Central to East basin • Export to Niagara River• Sediments to water (int. loading) (GLRI projects)

Materials of interest:- Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)- ‘Biomass’ (Cyanobacteria, Cladophora, fish)- Water (hydrology)- Contaminants (legacy, emerging)- Aquatic Invasive species- ‘heat’ [timing and amount of warming]

Activities Projects Planned/Recommended

GLRI/LEMC-funded Project (Nutrient transport & internal cycling

GLNI & Nearshore Frameworkhydrology, nutrients, water quality, biomass

ECCS 2014??Sediments, zoobenthos, water quality

Plans for 2013/14

• 2013 binational meeting (Oct 29-31)• Release & implement new 5-year plan:• planning for 2014 L. Erie collaborative year

• nearshore/land-water interaction emphasis •(new monitoring data)•(in-lake nutrient processing)•(help formulate nearshore framework

• 5-y plan approval by Advisory Committee• workshops reflecting needs identified by

updated Priority Needs list

Monitoring

ModelingHypothesis testing

Research Questions Status of the Lake

Management Needs

Relationship among management, research, & monitoring needs within LEMP.

3. forming collaborative groups (open to all)

Policy

http://www.LEMN.org

AN INTEGRATED HABITAT CLASSIFICATIONAND MAP OF THE LAKE ERIE BASIN

(Lake Erie Binational Map Project)

Lucinda B. Johnson

Jan J.H. Ciborowski

Scudder D. Mackey

Ric Lawson

Nicholas E. Mandrak

Daniel T. ButtonFunded by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program OfficeFunded by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office

Proposed Land Zones .Terrestrial (watersheds)Tributaries & inland watersCoastal wetlands

Proposed Lake Zones .coastal margin (watersheds)nearshore open lakeopen water – offshore

LaMP Indicators Workgroup

▪ Walleye & yellow perch production:extraction▪ Density of artificial structures (e.g., wind power, well heads, pipelines, shipwrecks)

▪ Walleye & yellow perch production:extraction▪ Density of artificial structures (e.g., wind power, well heads, pipelines, shipwrecks)

▪ Waterfowl hunting▪ Trapping▪ Disturbance indicator (eg, % emergent cover)

▪ Water taking▪ Amount of water treated and returned▪ Total recreational fishing effort

▪ Footprint of extractions▪ GLEI population and disturbance indicator

Resource Use and Disturbance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination▪ Dreissenid abundance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination▪ Dreissenid abundance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

Non-Native Invasive Species

▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Beach E. coli levels▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Beach E. coli levels▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Introduced diseases (incidence and extent)

Biological Contamination

▪ Offshore sediment quality index (Marvin)▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels

▪ Offshore sediment quality index (Marvin)▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels▪ Herring gull eggs contaminants levels

▪ Biota tissue contaminant concentration (snapping turtles, mudpuppies, yoy fish)▪ Fish tumours

▪ Sum of persistent and non-persistent chemicals in water and substrate▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels

▪ GLEI point-source discharge indicator▪ GLEI atmospheric deposition indicator▪ Groundwater contamination (persistent chemicals)▪ GLEI ag-chemindicator

Chemical Contamination

▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ DOC

▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ DOC

▪ TP, TN▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ TP/TN production (fertilizer, livestock, population density)▪ GLEI ag-chem▪ Groundwater contamination

Nutrients

▪ Integrated measure of effects of land condition▪ Model process results and flow disruptions

▪ % vegetated shoreline▪ Total area of coastal wetlands▪ Coastal wetland IBI suite

▪ % altered stream length ▪ Relative TSS/sediment loads▪ Altered hydraulic flow?

▪ % natural lands▪ % impermeable surfaces▪ GLEI land cover

Natural Lands

OffshoreNearshoreCoastal WetlandsStreamsTerrestrialCategory

Habitat ClassIndicator

▪ Walleye & yellow perch production:extraction▪ Density of artificial structures (e.g., wind power, well heads, pipelines, shipwrecks)

▪ Walleye & yellow perch production:extraction▪ Density of artificial structures (e.g., wind power, well heads, pipelines, shipwrecks)

▪ Waterfowl hunting▪ Trapping▪ Disturbance indicator (eg, % emergent cover)

▪ Water taking▪ Amount of water treated and returned▪ Total recreational fishing effort

▪ Footprint of extractions▪ GLEI population and disturbance indicator

Resource Use and Disturbance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination▪ Dreissenid abundance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination▪ Dreissenid abundance

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

▪ Non-native arrivals▪ Non-native domination

Non-Native Invasive Species

▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Beach E. coli levels▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Frequency/extent of bird and fish kills (botulism)▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Beach E. coli levels▪ Frequency/extent of hazardous algal blooms

▪ Introduced diseases (incidence and extent)

Biological Contamination

▪ Offshore sediment quality index (Marvin)▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels

▪ Offshore sediment quality index (Marvin)▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels▪ Herring gull eggs contaminants levels

▪ Biota tissue contaminant concentration (snapping turtles, mudpuppies, yoy fish)▪ Fish tumours

▪ Sum of persistent and non-persistent chemicals in water and substrate▪ Benthos/mussel contaminant levels▪ Fish tissue contaminant levels

▪ GLEI point-source discharge indicator▪ GLEI atmospheric deposition indicator▪ Groundwater contamination (persistent chemicals)▪ GLEI ag-chemindicator

Chemical Contamination

▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ DOC

▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ DOC

▪ TP, TN▪ TP, SRP, TN▪ TP/TN production (fertilizer, livestock, population density)▪ GLEI ag-chem▪ Groundwater contamination

Nutrients

▪ Integrated measure of effects of land condition▪ Model process results and flow disruptions

▪ % vegetated shoreline▪ Total area of coastal wetlands▪ Coastal wetland IBI suite

▪ % altered stream length ▪ Relative TSS/sediment loads▪ Altered hydraulic flow?

▪ % natural lands▪ % impermeable surfaces▪ GLEI land cover

Natural Lands

OffshoreNearshoreCoastal WetlandsStreamsTerrestrialCategory

Habitat ClassIndicator

The Lake Erie Indicators Matrix

The “System”:• St. Clair River• St. Clair Delta• Lake St. Clair• Detroit River• Western Basin, Lake Erie

Jeffrey ReutterJeffrey ReutterScudder MackeyScudder MackeyJan CiborowskiJan CiborowskiRobert HaasRobert HaasPhil RyanPhil RyanMurray CharltonMurray CharltonRussell KreisRussell Kreis

USFWS & GLFCUSFWS & GLFC

HURON-ERIE CORRIDOR SYSTEM HABITAT ASSESSMENT – CHANGING WATER LEVELS &

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

The Lake Erie Collaborative Comprehensive Study (ECCS)(2004)

Sampling design to estimate distribution, abundance & biomass of Dreissenidae and other zoobenthos

Jan J.H. Ciborowski1, David R. Barton2,

Kenneth A. Krieger3, Timothy B. Johnson4,

Stephen Lozano4

 

1Dept. of Biological Sciences , University of Windsor2Department of Biology, University of Waterloo3Water Quality Laboratory, Heidelberg College

4 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources5Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, NOAA 

Vessels, Agencies, & Captains (2004)4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444Vessel Agency Captain/Supervisor No. SitesLimnos Env. Canada Bruce Gray & David Gilroy 103Cyclops NOAA David Fanslow 36Parrot Env. Canada Bruce Gray & David Gilroy 30Erie Explorer ON MNR Ken Hill 25Keenosay ON MNR Craig McDonald 38Loftus ON MNR Craig McDonald 22Loon Ranger Univ. Windsor Todd Leadley 16Stone Lab vessel F.T. Stone Lab Matt Thomas 6Univ. Toledo vessel Univ. Toledo Tom Bridgeman 7 Total 283)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Funding & LiaisonUS EPA GLNPO – David RockwellEnvironment Canada – Vi RichardsonOntario Ministry of Environment – Mary Ellen Scanlon Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Tim JohnsonNOAA – GLERL – Steve Lozano

Sampling locations for Erie Comprehensive Collaborative Study, 2004. Open circles, offshore stations; closed circles, nearshore stations.

Stations are numbered consecutively from east-to-west and north-to-south.Map courtesy of Jeffrey Zhu, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Erie Comprehensive Collaborative Study (ECCS) - 2004

Number of sampling locations visited by research vessels. Triplicate zoobenthic and (where appropriate) other samples were collected at each location.4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444Vessel Agency Captain/Supervisor No. SitesLimnos Env. Canada Bruce Gray & David Gilroy 103Cyclops NOAA David Fanslow 36Parrot Env. Canada Bruce Gray & David Gilroy 30Erie Explorer ON MNR Ken Hill 25Keenosay ON MNR Craig McDonald 38Loftus ON MNR Craig McDonald 22Loon Ranger Univ. Windsor Todd Leadley 16Stone Lab vessel F.T. Stone Lab Matt Thomas 6Univ. Toledo vessel Univ. Toledo Tom Bridgeman 7 Total 283)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Summary of nearshore and offshore collections by basin44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444Location western central eastern TotalNearshore 37 54 33 124Offshore 53 54 52 159Total 90 108 85 283)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Distribution of Biomass (2004)

Erie Comprehensive Collaborative Study (ECCS) - 2010

Relative sum of land cover loss, population, & road density stresses

(ArcHydro sheds) – T. Hollenhorst (NRRI)

Land-Based stress (deliveredThrough Tributaries)

Cumulative Stress in the Great Lakes

Atmospheric Deposition (Nitrate)

Nitrogen Stressor Map (Atmospheric & Tributary LoadsPropagated by currents & wind)

Summary

1. The LEMN is an open network of interested participants working to develop a binational research framework

2. Nearshore water quality & habitat reflect timing, amount & quality of materials transported from the watersheds

– opportunity for closer ties with RAPs in AOCs & associated funding for research

3. Maintaining a balance of university & agency/institutional researchers ensures that research initiatives combine fundamental knowledge with agency needs.

Supporting GroupsSponsors Collaborators__

(funds for meetings, publications, etc.) (contribute to data needs, etc.)

Essex Region Conservation Authority Citizens Environment AllianceGreat Lakes Fishery Commission Cornell University Biological StationInternational Joint Commission Ducks UnlimitedLake Erie Lakewide Area Management Plan Essex County Stewardship Network through Environment Canada & US EPA Great Lakes CommissionMichigan Sea Grant Great Lakes Environ. Res. Lab - NOAALake Erie Protection Fund Great Lakes Research ConsortiumNew York Sea Grant Great Lakes Lab Fisheries & AquaticOntario Ministry of the Environment Sci. - Fisheries & Oceans CanadaOntario Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Commercial Fishery Assoc. Pennsylvania Dept. Environmental Protection Ontario Fed. of Hunters & AnglersPennsylvania Sea Grant Ohio Dept. Natural Resources US Geological Survey - Gt. Lakes Sci. Ctr. Ohio Environ. Protection Agency

Ontario Ministry Agriculture & Food Campbell Scientific Water Environment Federation DTE Energy, Inc. Hoskin Scientific

LEMN Habitat-related Projects

1. Huron-Erie Corridor System Habitat Assessment – Changing water levels & effects of global climate change [Current & future aquatic habitat restoration opportunities]

2. An integrated habitat classification and map of the Lake Erie basin

Response to L. Erie LAMP requests for habitat-related research needs & strategies

Participants: 1/3 university; 2/3 agency & institute scientists & technical experts

3. From Land to Lake: Nutrient effects at the coastal margin & nearshore

Charge to the LEMN Conference – Oct/13

Nutrients & Trophic Structure

Open lake nutrient dynamics & trophic structure seem to be regulated by regional processes. Weather likely plays a significant role

• Assess at basin-scale, with integrative sampling & observing systems?

Nearshore nutrient dynamics & trophic structure are regulated by local coupling & feedback loops. Local nutrient sources & dreissenids are likely important.

• Assess at contributing watershed scale?

What are the key research questions? What key variables/processes should we measure? Where? How often? For how long?Is the proposed habitat zone system suitable for these studies?