Dave Janetski will be leaving AWRI in August after accepting a new position as Assistant Professor of Applied Aquatic Ecology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He will teach Principles of Ecology and Evolution this fall, and hopefully in the future will teach Fish Biology and/or Aquatic Ecology.  Dave’s area of research will be responses of fish populations and communities to human activities (such as hydraulic fracturing) and non-native species.  Dave has been a postdoctoral research associate in Carl Ruetz’s lab the past three years, studying spatial and temporal patterns of fish communities in west Michigan. This includes research aimed at improving understanding of inter-annual population trends in game fish, namely yellow perch, as well as spatial patterns in fish community structure among drowned river mouth lakes. Dave has also been involved with projects related to macroinvertebrate community structure, invertebrate settling rates in streams, and zooplankton abundance in river mouth lakes to assess the potential for Asian carp invasion.

Geraldine Nogaro departed AWRI in March 2014 after accepting a new position as a Researcher of Aquatic Ecology for the Research and Development division of the French Electricity Company (Electricite de France - EDF) located in the suburbs of Paris, France. She is currently working on a research project to better understand the development of aquatic plants in the major rivers of France (Seine, Rhone, Loire, Garonne), where nuclear power plants are located. Extensive growth of aquatic plants, including invasive species, can potentially affect the water intake of electricity power plants so it is critical to understand the environmental factors controlling their growth. Geraldine was a postdoctoral research in Al Steinman's lab for 2 and 1/2 years, studying the influence of benthic invertebrates and invasive mussels on nutrient cycling and water quality in Muskegon Lake. She was also involved in studying the effects of restoration practices such as alum treatment in nutrient-enriched muck fields.

Al Steinman attended the 2^nd meeting of the Ottawa County Groundwater Task Force on June 2 in West Olive.  He is a member of the Task Force.

Al Steinman met with a donor and gave a tour on June 10^th.

Al Steinman and Devi Haria helped organize and also attended the 2^nd Blue Economy workshop in Lansing on June 13.

Al Steinman was an invited reviewer at the U of M Water Center Grants Annual meeting on June 24 and 25 in Ann Arbor.

Al Steinman and Devi Haria were in Traverse City on June 30 interviewing Dr. Hans VanSumeren as part of the Blue Economy project.

Al Steinman attended Board of Director meetings for Goodwill Industries, the Community Foundation, and West Michigan Symphony on 6/16, 6/23, and 6/26, respectively; and had a teleconference for the Society for Freshwater Science Board meeting on 6/12.  

The W.G. Jackson vessel traveled to East Chicago, Indiana for public outreach activities for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.  The W.G. Jackson continued to Michigan City, Indiana for three days of cruises and open houses for the Sanitary District of Michigan City.  These activities happened June 19-22.

 AWRI staff are in bold, graduate students are denoted with a *, and undergraduate students are denoted with **.

Publications

Jared Homola, recent masters’ graduate who worked with Carl Ruetz, has a manuscript published in Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science.  Carl Ruetz and Ryan Thum are co-authors.

Homola, J.J.*, C.R. Ruetz III, S.L. Kohler, and R.A. Thum.  2014.  Weak effects of a microsporidian parasite on mottled sculpin in Michigan streams.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 71:915-926. 

Presentations
(Presenter listed first)

Rod Denning and John Koches presented the Upper Muskegon River Watershed Management Plan draft at a Steering Committee meeting on June 10 in Denton Township.

Mark Luttenton was a guest lecturer for Gary Greer’s BIO 105, Environmental Science course on May 28.

Mark Luttenton gave a presentation to the Anglers of the Au Sable on June 22 about the Brook Trout telemetry project and the Brown Trout project.

Rick Rediske was a guest lecturer for PH 520, Environmental Health on June 2.

Al Steinman gave a presentation updating the lab’s work on Silver Lake at the annual meeting of the Silver Lake Association on June 7 in Mears.

Al Steinman spoke to the Muskegon County Garden Club at the USS Silversides Museum on June 16.

Al Steinman, Jim McNair, and Kurt Thompson attended a Project Clarity meeting on June 18.  Kurt and Jim presented updates of their modeling work for the project.

Al Steinman gave a presentation to the Muskegon Angels group at the LMC on June 19.

Al Steinman gave a presentation to the Grand Haven Rotary on June 23.

There were no Awards or Recognition items this month.

There were no new grants or contracts this month.

AWRI in the News

There were no new articles for AWRI In the News this month. Check again next month!

LMC Events

June 2
Alto Elementary 4^th graders visited the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom for hands-on activities and took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson.   

June 3 & 4
Murray Lake 4^th graders visited the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom for hands-on activities and took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson.

June 4
Kurt Thompson and AWRI hosted a modeling workshop presented by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at the LMC.

June 5
Mecosta Osceola Intermediate School District (MOISD) 5^th & 6^th graders visited the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom for hands-on activities and took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson. 

June 5
The Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership held a public meeting at the LMC.

June 6
North Park Montessori students visited the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom for hands-on activities and took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson.

June 9
Niles Community Home School students visited the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom for hands-on activities and took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson.

June 10
The West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) held a community partner meeting at the LMC and also took a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson.

June 12
Lindsey Schulte, graduate student working with Ryan Thum, successfully passed her qualifying exam.

June 19
The Muskegon Angels investment group held a meeting at the LMC.  Al Steinman gave a tour of AWRI.

June 25
Participants in this year’s Grand Parents-Grand Children-Grand Valley (G3) Summer Camp enjoyed a science program at the LMC and a vessel cruise on the W.G. Jackson. 

June 30
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), Grand Valley State University (GVSU), and Williams and Works, hosted a public “Presentation of the Draft West Michigan Water Trail Plan in Muskegon”, at the LMC.