INCOMING GRADUATE STUDENTS AT AWRI

Graduate students are an integral part of our mission at the Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI). We welcome these new graduate students joining us this fall.

Katelyn Anderson grew up in Jackson, Michigan. She received a B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Natural Resource Management at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). At GVSU, she worked as an intern at AWRI with Dr. Kevin Strychar and Dr. Rick Rediske on the beach monitoring program. She is currently working on her M.S. with Dr. Kevin Strychar and will use Imaging Flow Cytometry to identify environmental E. coli. 

Anna Briem grew up in Vernon, Alabama, and attended the University of North Alabama where she received her B.S. in Marine Biology. After graduating, she worked in Alaska from 2015-2021 collecting fisheries data for NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service on both commercial fishing and research vessels. She has recently started working on her M.S. with Dr. Mark Luttenton evaluating the removal of Eurasian watermilfoil and the restoration of native flora in Lake Leelanau, MI.

Tyler Chlystek was born in Saginaw, Michigan. He works on his family farm near Albion, Michigan tending bees and plants for his gardens and was later inspired by his mom to take up a role in helping people and the environment. He received his undergraduate degree from Saginaw Valley State University in Health Science with a focus on epidemiology. He is now a second-year graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at GVSU. Tyler Is working with Rick Rediske and Alexis Porter surveying beaches for microbial contaminants and will also be assisting with the SARS-COV-2 project throughout the fall.

Keely Dunham grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and earned her B.A. in Biology with an emphasis in Environmental Science from Miami University. After completing her degree, she spent one year as an AmeriCorps member managing invasive species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Afterwards she moved to west Michigan to work at the Ottawa Conservation District for several years where she gained hands-on experience in natural resource management. She is currently pursuing her M.S. degree working with Dr. Charlyn Partridge and will be using eDNA to detect hemlock woolly adelgid.

Tyler Hoyt is an Air Force veteran who grew up near Tacoma, Washington, and earned his B.S. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington. Tyler has a wide range of experiences working in Alaska and The Idaho Department of Fish and Game in northern Idaho. While he is interested in all aspects of fisheries ecology, he is primarily interested in research centered around the conservation of native species. Tyler is working on his M.S. with an emphasis in aquatic sciences in Dr. Carl Ruetz’s lab. His thesis work assesses yellow perch morphology across different populations in drowned river mouth lakes.

Kathrine Lucas is from St. Louis, Missouri. She received her B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University. While attending ISU, Kate gained experience as a Water Resource Intern doing outreach work, and as a chemistry technician in the Iowa DNR Limnology Lab working on multiple lake monitoring projects. She is currently working on her M.S. with an emphasis in aquatic sciences under Dr. Al Steinman at GVSU's AWRI. Her thesis work will generally focus on inland lakes. 

 

FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES

AWRI Science Instructors Doug Haywick and Bob Myers had a display about AWRI at the Macatawa Water Festival held on August 13^th.
The Biddanda lab continues Lake Huron sinkhole experiments and data analyses.
The Biddanda lab continues to monitor the operation and maintenance of the Muskegon Lake Observatory buoy.
Bopi Biddanda will teach BIO 370, Marine Biology, in fall 2022.
Davis Fray, Sarah Hamsher’s graduate student, traveled to Florida to work with their colleague, Dr. Dale Casamatta (University of North Florida), to help their lab process samples, collected from high sulfur/low nitrogen habitats, for metabarcoding analyses as part of his thesis project.
Sarah Hamsher assisted Rick Rediske in teaching a plankton short course for Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on Aug 15^th – 17^th.
Sarah Hamsher will teach BIO 121, General Biology II, and BIO 376, Genetics Laboratory, in fall 2022.
Mark Luttenton is monitoring nutrient concentrations in groundwater and surface water sampling of Higgins Lake.
Mark Luttenton has begun conducting surface water sampling on the Au Sable River and Manistee River in relation to the distribution of Didymosphenia.
Mark Luttenton is analyzing invertebrate samples from the Au Sable River which is part of the annual water quality assessment.
Mark Luttenton is evaluating the influence of benthic barriers on nutrient conditions and invasive plant growth in Lake Leelanau.
Jim McNair will teach BIO/NRM 699, an Independent Study of Modeling-Techniques, in fall 2022.
Charlyn Partridge continues to attend weekly Zoom meetings to discuss the COVID wastewater project and the summer beach sampling project.
Charlyn Partridge attended a Michigan Lakes and Streams Association Board of Directors meeting on July 27^th.
The Rediske lab has completed their annual beach monitoring program for 2022.
The Rediske lab continues to test wastewater samples for the SARS-CoV-2 virus; the levels peaked in July, but now they are seeing a downward trend.
The Rediske lab is working on two MST (molecular source tracking) projects for Ruddiman Creek (Muskegon Conservation District) and The Two Rivers Watershed Association (Paw Paw).
Rick Rediske met with the Muskegon Conservation District, the Mona Lake Improvement Board, and the City of Muskegon Heights on August 11^th. The Mona Lake Improvement Association received a $500,00 appropriation for water quality improvements. AWRI will be assisting the MCD in writing the plan and conducting a phosphorus and pathogen study in Little Black Creek.
Rick Rediske co-taught the Plankton/Algae course held at AWRI for EGLE on August 15^th and 16^th.
Rick Rediske was part of a panel discussion sponsored by WMEAC held in Whitehall on August 17^th. He also talked about Molecular Source Tracking (MST) testing.
Carl Ruetz virtually attended the West Michigan Watershed Partnership meeting on July 21^st.
Carl Ruetz is teaching BIO362, Biology and Diversity of Fishes, in fall 2022.
Al Steinman met with Katharine Hazard Flynn, Executive Director, URI Business Engagement Center (BEC) on blue economy initiatives in the Great Lakes on August 2^nd.
Al Steinman met with representatives of MDARD, EGLE, and MSU to provide an overview of the iron slag filter project in Macatawa Watershed on August 13^th.
Al Steinman met with Madeleine Wyatt, Michigan Trails to discuss opportunities for trails in Muskegon County on August 15^th.
Al Steinman met with the West Michigan RCPI Coastal Resilience Advisory Team on August 16^th.
Al Steinman met with Patrick Center to talk about FLOW on groundwater initiatives on August 22^nd.
Al Steinman hosted US Senator Gary Peters on an overview of Muskegon Lake restoration on August 29^th.
Al Steinman had an interview with Brian Vernellis, GVNext, on stepping down as AWRI Director on August 8^th. https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2022/qa-al-steinman-reflects-on-his-two-decades-as-director-of-annis-water-resources-institute.htm
Al Steinman had an interview with Audrey Whitaker, Bridge magazine reporter, on Muskegon Lake recovery on August 11^th. https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/two-generations-and-70-million-later-muskegon-lake-restored
Al Steinman had an interview with Abigail Ham, MIBiz reporter, on shoreline hardening on August 15^th. https://mibiz.com/sections/economic-development/great-lakes-report-highlights-land-use-pressures-natural-solutions
Al Steinman was in attendance and was interviewed during the Meijer -CGLR Bebot-Pixie Drone Press Conference held on Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon on August 23^rd.
Al Steinman will teach BIO 699, an Independent Study of Emerging Issues, in fall 2022.
Kevin Strychar is teaching BIO 105, Environmental Science, in fall 2022.
Kevin Strychar will serve on GVSU’s Academic Senate again this academic year.
Janet Vail volunteered at the partner speed talks at the Groundswell Summer Institute in Grand Rapids on August 4^th.
Amanda Syers had a booth for AWRI set-up at the West Michigan GLSI Summer Institute to share information about Outreach and Education at AWRI in Muskegon on August 4^th.
Amanda Syers attended the GLOBE Midwest Partners virtual meeting on August 25^th.
Amanda Syers will co-teach with Janet Vail ENS 183, Sustainability as a Lifestyle, in fall 2022.
Sean Woznicki will teach GPY 100, Physical and Environmental Geography, in fall 2022.

Presentations and Publications

AWRI staff are bolded, undergraduate students are denoted with a single asterisk*, graduate students are denoted with two asterisks**, and post-doc researchers are donated with three asterisks ***.

Publications:

Bopi Biddanda is a co-author of an article accepted to Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment:
Villar Argaiz, M., J.M. Medina-Sánchez, and B.A. Biddanda. In Press. National Parks are failing to protect wetlands. Letter to Editor. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

Bopi Biddanda is a co-author of a submission to AGU on Tumblr:
Medina-Sánchez, J.M. and B. Biddanda. Lake effect: Meltwater lakes on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Eos, American Geophysical Union. August 8, 2022. https://americangeophysicalunion.tumblr.com/post/692022436303192064/lake-effect-multitude-of-meltwater-lakes-on-the

Bopi Biddanda, several members of the Biddanda lab, and Sean Woznicki were co-authors of an article accepted to Lake Letter, IAGLR:
Weinke, A., I. Stone, J. Greene*, S. Woznicki, J. Cook, N. Dugener**, and B. Biddanda. In Press. Great Lakes Estuaries: Hotspots of productivity, problems, and potential. Lakes Letter, IAGLR, Summer 2022 (Next issue).

Al Steinman was a co-author of an article to be submitted to Water Research:
Cheng, C., Steinman, A.D., Xue, Q. and Xie, L. In Prep. The disruption of calcium and hydrogen homeostasis of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara caused by microcystin-LR.

Al Steinman was lead author of a white paper submitted to CIGLR:
Steinman, A.D., Godwin, C., Stow, C., Rutherford, E., Uzarski, D., Kashian, D., Vanderploeg, H., Bratton, J., Chaffin, J., Kapuscinski, K., Chaganti, S.R., Errera, R., Rowe, M., O’Reilly, K., Reavie, E.D., Woolnough, D. 2022. Coordinated experiments across the Great Lakes Basin: Great Lakes Integrated Mesocosm Research (GLIMR). A White Paper for the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Presentations - (Presenter listed first):

Nate Dugener, graduate student working with Bopi Biddanda, gave a presentation about the Muskegon Lake Observatory buoy during the Plankton/Algae Workshop held at AWRI on August 16^th.

Maggie Petersen, graduate student working with Charlyn Partridge, successfully defended her thesis on July 14^th.

Charlyn Partridge attended the joint Ecological Association of America/Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution meeting in Montreal, Canada where she presented a paper based on Maggie Petersen’s microplastic research.

Carl Ruetz and Nick Vander Stelt (Carl’s graduate student) presented (virtually) at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Region, Partners in Action Conference on July 27^th. They organized a 1-hour session at which they both presented and had an extended Q & A session with the audience.
Ruetz, C.R., III. Oral. History of Arctic Grayling in Michigan.
Vander Stelt, N.**, and C.R. Ruetz III. Oral. Ecological monitoring of the Boardman-Ottaway River.

Al Steinman presented an overview of AWRI to the Provost’s Cabinet while they were at AWRI for a retreat on August 18^th.

Ian Stone (technician), Janelle Cook (technician), Nate Dugener (graduate student), and Bopi Biddanda all gave a presentation about the Muskegon Lake Observatory buoy to visiting Lansing Area Public School teachers on July 27^th.

Amanda Syers hosted and presented to a group of teachers taking part in professional development through a NOAA B-WET grant titled Mid-Michigan Watershed Connections when they visited AWRI and had a trip on the research vessel W.G. Jackson on July 27^th.

Grants, Contracts, Awards, and Recognition

GRANTS & CONTRACTS:

The Rediske lab received notification of their MST beach monitoring grant in the amount of $22,500.

Al Steinman received a grant from Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to do an Economic Impact Analysis of the National Great Lakes Way in the amount of $50,000. 

Al Steinman received a grant from the Council of Great Lakes Region Foundation for Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup in the amount of $30,000.

Al Steinman received a contract from the NOAA/Muskegon County Water Resources Commission Office to monitor Mona Lake Celery Field Restoration in the amount of $41,300.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:

Jacqueline Molloseau, undergraduate student working with Al Steinman, received a Kindschi Fellowship for the fall 2022 semester to work on Chloride behavior in Church Lake soils. ($2,500)

AWRI News and Events

AWRI IN THE NEWS

“High levels of E. coli bacteria found in water at Kruse Beach in Muskegon”
WZZM 13, July 7, 2022
AWRI is mentioned as the monitor of the water quality.

“Excess waste and rain contributed to E. coli advisory at Muskegon Park”
WZZM 13, July 7, 2022
Rick Rediske was interviewed regarding E. coli levels and safe hygiene practices when swimming in local lakes and rivers.

“Great Lakes resurrection: Muskegon Lake transforms from industrial dump to ‘ridiculous’ potential”
Great Lakes resurrection: Muskegon Lake transforms from industrial dump to ‘ridiculous’ potential - mlive.com
MLive, July 12, 2022, Part 1
Al Steinman was quoted.

“80M and decades of effort rid Muskegon Lake of its industrial toxicity”
$80M and decades of effort rid Muskegon Lake of its industrial toxicity - mlive.com
MLive, July 13, 2022, Part 2
Al Steinman was quoted.

“Tourist mecca? Muskegon Lake cleanup gives community a new lease on life”
Tourist mecca? Muskegon Lake cleanup gives community a new lease on life - mlive.com
MLive, July 14, 2022, Part 3
Al Steinman was quoted.

On Higgins Lake, distrust and old grudges cloud septic debate
Bridge Michigan, July 29, 2022
Mark Luttenton was quoted regarding the water quality of Higgins Lake and the current issue of septic pollution.

“Muskegon Lake cleanup: A Great Lakes resurrection”
Muskegon Chronicle, July 31, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted regarding Muskegon Lake and its clean-up.

“Q&A: Al Steinman reflects on his two decades as director of Annis Water Resources Institute”
GVnext, August 4, 2022
Al Steinman was interviewed about his 21 years as director at AWRI.

“Two generations and $70 million later, Muskegon Lake is restored”
Bridge Michigan, August 11, 2022
Al Steinman is quoted regarding the the restoration of Muskegon Lake.
Also carried by:
Circle of Blue, 8/22/22
www.greatlakesnow.org

“Great Lakes report highlights land use pressures, natural solutions”
MiBiz, August 14, 2022
Al Steinman was interviewed about natural solutions to Great Lakes shoreline issues.
Also carried by Economic Development

“Muskegon debuts new beach-cleaning drones, conservation partnership”
WZZM 13, August 23, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted regarding use of a BeBot and Pixie drones for beach and surface water clean-up.
Also carried by WOOD-TV 8

“AWRI-operated drones to clean up plastic on beaches, waterways”
GVnext, August 23, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted regarding use of a BeBot and Pixie drones for beach and surface water clean-up.

“These robots are keeping trash out of Lake Michigan”
WLNS, August 24, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted regarding use of a BeBot and Pixie drones for beach and surface water clean-up.

“Robots are invading beaches in Michigan and Ohio for litter patrol”
WKFR, August 24, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted.

“Meijer is first retailer to unveil beach and water cleaning drones in the Great Lakes in partnership with the Council of the Great Lakes Region”
Meijer newsroom, August 25, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted; AWRI is partnering with Meijer to operate the equipment along the Muskegon shoreline.

“Meijer brings cleanup technology to lakeshore”
Grand Rapids Business Journal, August 26, 2022
AWRI personnel are mentioned as operators of the equipment.
Meijer brings cleanup technology to lakeshore - Grand Rapids Business Journal (grbj.com)

“AWRI hosts U.S. Senator Gary Peters on tour of Muskegon Lake”
GVNext, August 29, 2022
Al Steinman was quoted regarding the remediation done to clean up Muskegon Lake.
AWRI hosts U.S. Senator Gary Peters on tour of Muskegon Lake - GVNext (gvsu.edu)

“Muskegon County Lake to Receive Nearly $500,000 Makeover”
Michigan News Source, August 30, 2022
AWRI is mentioned as a partner in this restoration.
Muskegon County Lake to Receive Nearly $500,000 Makeover (michigannewssource.com)

“Nearly $500K will fund next step in restoration of Lake Michigan inlet lake near Muskegon”
MLive, August 28, 2022
AWRI is mentioned as a partner in this restoration.
Nearly $500K will fund next step in restoration of Lake Michigan inlet lake near Muskegon - mlive.com

“Meijer unveils beach, water cleaning devices”
WNEM News 10, August 29, 2022
AWRI is mentioned as operating the drones in Muskegon.
Meijer unveils beach, water cleaning devices (wilx.com)

“A pair of cute, garbage-loving drones are cleaning up the Great Lakes”
Business News, August 30, 2022
Al Steinman is quoted regarding the drones and their use.
A pair of cute, garbage-loving drones are cleaning up the Great Lakes - Business News (crast.net)

LMC EVENTS

July 14 - Graduate Student, Maggie Petersen, defended her thesis.

July 18 - GVSU President’s Leadership Dinner

July 29 - Graduate Student, Ellen Foley, defended her thesis.

August 5 – AWRI Undergrad Summer Intern Presentations

August 15, 16, and 17 – The State of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy held an Algae Course

August 18 – GVSU Provost Cabinet Meeting

August 29 – Senator Gary Peters Motorcycle Tour