The role of the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is to direct enhanced monitoring and research activities across each of the Laurentian Great Lakes to provide relevant information to address the science priorities of each Lake Partnership (established under the Lakewide Management Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement). CSMI is an intensive effort to collect information on the health of one Great Lake each year, cycling through the lakes on a five-year period. In 2020/2021, it was Lake Michigan’s turn (over a two-year period due to COVID). This is an executive summary of the 2020/2021 research results and the associated white paper containing more specific information.

The CSMI Visual Asset Library is a catalog of 56 graphic elements that can be downloaded and used to create scientific visuals and illustrations. These graphics were originally created to illustrate the changing Lake Michigan food web as part of the outreach efforts for the 2015 Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is making these available to the public as a resource of scientifically accurate, professionally-designed food web assets that may be used to enhance reports, presentations, and any other activities intended to communicate Lake Michigan food web characteristics.

There are 2 parts to this product entry: a .pdf overview which shows examples of all the design elements available in the set, and a .zip file of the actual visual assets.

Download Visual Assets Library Collection Guide

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.

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 stream water contamination, Asian carp, fish consumption safety, and more.

Lawn to Lake provides information on how to protect water quality through natural lawn care. This rack card explains the benefits of using phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizer and natural lawn care products.

Lawn to Lake provides information on how to protect water quality through natural lawn care. This rack card is geared towards lawn care retailers, explaining the benefits of carrying phosphorus-free (P-free) fertilizer and natural lawn care products.

For a healthy lawn that doesn’t pollute local waters, it is important to avoid fertilizers that have phosphorus (P). This poster, which is made for lawn-care retailers, explains how to identify “P-free” fertilizers. It also provides six easy tips for having a healthy lawn.

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the St. Louis River bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Duluth has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Duluth, Minnesota
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 61-66)
• St. Louis River Alliance St. Louis River National Water Trail
• St. Louis River Alliance: St. Louis River Area of Concern Update: Kingsbury Bay/Grassy Point project completed!
• MPR News: Minnesota moves closer to completing St. Louis River restoration
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth rakes in record $12.4M in tourism revenue
• Duluth Star Tribune: Despite bump in tourism dollars, Duluth sees room for growth
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth’s tourism tax collection rebounds to pre-pandemic levels
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2020/Age and Sex

Ecosystem Services Valuation in the Indiana Coastal Zone introduces this concept to coastal zone managers, policymakers, and valuation practitioners. Ecosystem services valuation allows decision makers to better address resource management challenges and communicate how actions can negatively or positively affect the public.