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
9:10-10:00am: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bioregionalism
Stephanie Mills, author
10:00-10:45am: Grand Traverse Band projects
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, Natural Resources Department staff
10:45-11:00am: BREAK
11:00-11:30am: Arctic Grayling update
Ed Eisch, Fish Production Program Manager, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
11:30am-12:00pm: Sea lamprey update
Mike Siefkes, Sea Lamprey Control Director, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
12:00-1:00pm: LUNCH
1:00-2pm: LIGHTNING TALKS
Boyne Falls Dam removal
Meredith Freeby, Project Manager, Conservation Resource Alliance
eDNA
Maggie Petersen Molecular Ecology & Toxicology Senior Researcher, Great Lakes Environmental Center
Lake level update
Mark Breederland, Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant Extension
FishPass update
Leah McCallum, Great Lakes Fishery Commission/FishPass
Determining the health of the Boardman-Ottaway River
Christine Crissman, Executive Director, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
2:00-2:30pm: Plankton & whitefish
Jason Smith, Great Lakes Fisheries Assessment Biologist, Bay Mills Indian Community
2:30-3:00pm: Natural shorelines
Madeline Baroli, Salix Community Forestry Collective
3:00pm: Evaluation & adjourn
The 17th Annual Freshwater Summit is generously sponsored by:
