The role of the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is to provide enhanced monitoring and research activities that provide relevant information to address the science priorities of the Lake Partnerships (established under the Lakewide Management Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement) across the Laurentian Great Lakes. The Lake Michigan Partnership, a collaborative team of natural resource managers led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with participation from federal, state, tribal, and local governments or agencies, uses the information collected through CSMI to help develop long term ecosystem-based management strategies for protecting and restoring Lake Michigan’s water quality. On a practical level, CSMI is an intensive effort to collect information on the health of each lake, rotating to one Great Lake each year. In 2015, it was Lake Michigan’s turn. This is an executive summary of the 2015 research results and the associated white paper containing more specific information.

The Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is a binational effort that coordinates monitoring and research efforts on each Great Lake over a five-year cycle to improve understanding of aquatic ecosystems. CSMI field sampling is guided by priorities identified in Lakewide Action and Management Plans (LaMPs) and the results inform the development of future management programs. This document highlights the work intended to be conducted during the 2015 CSMI field year on Lake Michigan.