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Media Advisory: Experts to discuss Lake Michigan, Great Lakes beaches in Traverse City Oct. 3-5

Release Date: 09/26/2007
Contact Information: EPA -- Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218 cannon.phillippa@epa.gov Michigan Sea Grant - Mark Breederland, 231-922-4628, cell 231-590-0413 Great Lakes Beach Association - Shannon Briggs, cell 517-712-3150

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OPA07164

CHICAGO (Sept. 25, 2007) - Experts will discuss Lake Michigan and Great Lakes beaches at concurrent conferences in Traverse City, Mich., Oct. 3 to 5. Scientists and beach managers will present the latest research on sustainability and environmental issues affecting the lake, Grand Traverse Bay and Great Lakes beaches.

Topics include the potential impact of climate change on Lake Michigan, economics of a healthy lake, fisheries, invasive species, recovering species, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, and health risks at beaches. The keynote speaker is John Austin, lead author of the recent Brookings Institution report "Healthy Waters, Strong Economy: the Benefits of Restoring the Great Lakes Ecosystem."
This is the fifth biennial State of Lake Michigan Conference and at each conference new information and reports have been presented about changes in the lake.

The conferences will be held at the Hagerty Conference Center, Northwestern Michigan College - Great Lakes Campus and the Holiday Inn - West, Traverse City. Reporters are invited to attend any of the sessions. To request an interview with conference organizers or presenters, call Phillippa Cannon, EPA, or Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea Grant, at the numbers above.

The State of Lake Michigan and Great Lakes Beach conferences are sponsored by EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, the Lake Michigan Forum, Michigan Sea Grant College Program, the Great Lakes Beach Association and the Great Lakes Regional Research Information Network.

An agenda is available at http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/SOLM2007.