Just as a gardener hopes that their scattered seeds will eventually bloom into a lush garden, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant awards Discovery Grants, or ‘seed’ grants, to a number of projects in the hopes that the initiatives will grow into something larger. This publication highlights research on water quality, aquaculture, biodiversity, and more.

Feature Headlines

• Forecast Calls for Windy City Winter Blues
• Invasive Mussel Impacts: It’s Complicated
• Nearshore Food Web is an East-west Story
• Student Scientists Explore Real-world Issues
• New Tool Helps Planners Steer Clear of Tipping Points

The Great Lakes Sea Grant Social Science Network (GLSGSSN) evaluated the impact based warning (IBW) product throughout the National Weather Service (NWS) Central Region in 2013. The evaluation study builds off previous work commissioned by the NWS (Galluppi et al. 2013). Galluppi’s study assessed the product in 2012, when five Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) piloted the IBW product. The study we conducted reveals the product’s effectiveness throughout the NWS Central Region, which includes 38 WFOs. Our evaluation data was collected using focus groups, interviews, and surveys of NWS weather forecasters, emergency managers, and broadcast media to assess the product’s effectiveness.

An introduction and recommendations for the City of Evanston to adopt in relation to water conservation and efficiency planning

Summary of City of Highland Park Water Conservation and Efficiency Initiative started in 2013

Feature Headlines

• Indiana Seafood: Coming to a Restaurant Near You
• Cook County Critical Facilities have New Tool to Reduce Flood Impacts
• The Grand Cal Keeps Getting Better
• Medicines in Lake Michigan Impact Minnow Embryos
• New Research Projects Address Pollutants and Other Key Issues
• The Medicine Chest has a New Look and New Lessons

Overview of funded research in Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant in 2016

Feature Headlines

• Peoria Stormwater Issue Reaches a Tipping Point
• Rain Barrel Use Connected to Benefits
• Stormwater Troopers go Green
• Crude Oil Transport Brings the Great lakes risks and Benefits
• Sea Grant Takes AIM in the War on AIS
• Students Connect with Real-time Buoy Data

Learn about the pros and cons of using two different methods to establish a new lawn.