Lake Erie Millennium Network (LEMN)http://www.uwindsor.ca/erie2001

Binational Network - formed November 1998

Convening Organizations:F.T. Stone Lab - Ohio State University (Jeff Reutter)NWRI - Environment Canada (Murray Charlton)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

Coordination

Advisory Committee(representatives of Sponsoring Agencies)

Codirectors (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)

Coordination

Codirectors

Agency working personnel Univ. & lab researchersSuite of priority issues Suite of research issues

Millennium Biennial Conference Lake status; Suite of combined needs

Research Definition workshopsStatus of issues; Coordinated research proposals

Goal & Strategy

Goal: Develop framework for a binational research network toa) address management needsb) understand the ecosystem

Activities

• Biennial conference

• Priority Needs workshops

• Research Needs workshops (at conferences)

• Special conference workshops

• Research Definition workshops (numbered by Priority Need issue)

[Insert 12 person years here]

Activities Pending

• Renew & convene Advisory Committee

• Convene Priority Needs workshop (March 28/29 2006)

• Compile ‘active members’ list (recruit active participants)

• Plan for 5th Biennial Conference (May 2007)

• Plan for 2009 collaborative year

•Complete website revision & upgrade

http://www.uwindsor.ca/erie2001

Canadian Water Network?

How do we Improve the LEMN? What else should (or shouldn’t) we do?

• More effort at outreach?

• Promote broader workshop involvement?

• Greater diversity of workshops?

• Grad student exchange?

• Submit proposal to Canadian Water Network?

• New collaborative research initiatives?

• Diversify locations of meetings?

Current Status and Future Directions for

LEMN

Charge to the Conference

Nutrients & Trophic Structure (Groups A,B,F,G,H)

Open lake nutrient dynamics & trophic structure seem to be regulated by regional processes & annual time scales. Weatherlikely plays a significant role (short & long-term).• Assess at basin-scale, with integrative sampling &

observing systems?

Nearshore nutrient dynamics & trophic structure are regulated by local benthic-pelagic coupling & feedback loops actingover seasonal or shorter time scales. Dreissenids & local nutrient sources are likely important.• Assess at contributing watershed scale?

Based on reports at this conference, what are the key researchquestions? What key variables/processes should we measure? Where? How often? For how long? How do we integrate scales?Is the proposed habitat zone system suitable for these studies?

Charge to the Conference

Habitat Classification & Assessment (Groups C,D,E)

Is the proposed habitat zone system suitable for the type of work that you do? What are the limitations, if any?

How do we identify boundaries of classes within the zone?What key variables/processes should we measure to define classes? [Please prioritize by importance - top 5, and ‘other’]

Where? How often? For how long? How do we integrate scales?Who else should be consulted for input/comment on the system?

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

Outwelling Zones(thermal, light, biotic)

Feature based(Sub-basin)

Hydraulics(gyres, light, biotic)

Hydraulics/thermal(gyres, light, temp, biotic)

Proposed Lake Zones .coastal margin (watersheds)nearshore open lake: beigeopen water – offshore: blue

Breakout Groups

Group Topic Leader Recorder .A Nearshore Nutrient Issues Jan Ciborowski JanB Lakewide Nutrient Issues Gerry Matisoff ChristineC Land, Trib, Wetland Jan Keough JesseD Coastal Margin & Nearshore Scudder Mackey LindsayE Offshore Jeff Tyson AnitaF Contaminants Russ Kreis LucieG Benthic Features Ken Krieger CarlaH & I Invaders; Sensing & Technol. Jeff Reutter MiSun