freshwater summit
The Freshwater Summit is an annual conference aimed at discussing the latest research, projects, and initiatives that impact the Great Lakes and Grand Traverse Bay regions. The Summit engages environmental professionals, citizens, and businesses in topics of interest that help further understanding of and appreciation for our invaluable freshwater resources.
18th annual freshwater summit
Thursday, October 30, 2025 │9am-3pm
Hagerty Center │ 715 E. Front St, Traverse City
8:30-9:00am: Registration
9:00-9:10am: Welcome & opening remarks
9:10-10:10am: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bioregionalism: starting and staying with the nature of place
Stephanie Mills, author
10:10am-10:40pm: Sea lamprey update
Mike Siefkes, Sea Lamprey Control Director, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
10:40-11:00am: BREAK
11:00am-12:00pm: LIGHTNING TALKS
eDNA
Maggie Petersen Molecular Ecology & Toxicology Senior Researcher, Great Lakes Environmental Center
The Boyne Falls Dam: from barrier to bridge
Meredith Freeby, Project Manager, Conservation Resource Alliance
Lake level update
Mark Breederland, Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant Extension
Determining the health of the Boardman-Ottaway River
Christine Crissman, Executive Director, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
FishPass + Michigan’s Blue Tech Innovation Hub
Leah McCallum, FishPass Community Engagement Officer, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
12:00-1:00pm: LUNCH
1:00-2:00pm: Grand Traverse Band projects
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, Natural Resources Department staff
2:00-2:30pm: Off and swimming: an update on Michigan’s Arctic Grayling Initiative
Ed Eisch, Assistant Chief of Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
2:30-3:00pm: Relationships in the Great Lakes: the problem and solution
Jason Smith, Great Lakes Fisheries Assessment Biologist, Bay Mills Indian Community
3:00pm: Evaluation & adjourn
The 18th Annual Freshwater Summit is generously sponsored by:
