Sea Grant is focused on lake levels and other pressing Great Lakes issues

Posted March 9th, 2020 in Director's Blog, News
waves crashing over constructed shoreline with Chicago skyline in the background

For the last annual reporting period, the Sea Grant program had another very good year. In 2018 alone, nationwide, the program helped to create or sustain more than 7,600 jobs and 1,600 businesses, protected or restored nearly 11,000 acres of habitats, reached 22,469 K-12 students through educational programs and had an overall economic impact of $624.6 million.

While the administration has proposed zeroing out Sea Grant for four consecutive years, the House and Senate has continued to support the program. In fact, throughout its more than half a century run the program has consistently enjoyed strong bipartisan support from members of Congress. With this support, we plan to continue providing strong science-based support for a healthy and vibrant Great Lakes economy and environment for years to come.

If you are so motivated, you may consider communicating with your Congressperson about the value of Sea Grant. If you would like more information about Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s success stories in the two states and the region, read our recent impacts booklet or 2-page summaries of our work.

The Great Lakes Sea Grant programs are focused on pressing regional concerns, and right now, we are keeping our eyes on high lake levels. According to NOAA, in February, the Lake Michigan water level broke a 32-year record by about 5.5 inches. For some perspective on the rate of increase, in January of 2020, the lake was 18 inches higher than in January of 2019. High lake levels, along with dangerous wave action, can cause beach erosion, flooding and water safety concerns.

To learn more about potential impacts, we have joined with Wisconsin Sea Grant and Michigan Sea Grant to fund a project to study physical, hydrodynamic and social issues related to coastal erosion along Lake Michigan shorelines. This multi-state effort will focus on a number of questions related to this timely issue. We are also investigating other ways that we can provide science-based information to residents and decision makers.

I hope you enjoy reading our new Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant quarterly e-newsletter. This issue highlights several research projects, including a look at the interaction of microplastics and PFAS in Great Lakes waters and a social science study about what motivates people to take action to protect water quality. Addressing another timely issue, as water rates around the country increase, we have helped develop resources to help communities address water affordability concerns. You can also learn about the American Citizen Planner program in Indiana that provides training for public officials and volunteers on processes of comprehensive planning.

Tomas Höök
Director, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

 

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a part of University of Illinois Extension and Purdue Extension.

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This season, let’s teach eco-friendly habits while spreading cheer! NOAA’s Greener Holiday Gift Guide is full of ideas to reduce waste and protect our precious water resources.

Check out the full guide at the link in bio.

#teachingtuesday

NOAA Marine Debris
NOAA Education

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This season, let’s teach eco-friendly habits while spreading cheer! NOAA’s Greener Holiday Gift Guide is full of ideas to reduce waste and protect our precious water resources. Check out the full guide at the link in bio. #teachingtuesdayNOAA Marine Debris NOAA Education

The gales of November may come early, but, as usual, the nominations for the Lakies are right on time along with our official call for nominations!

Brought to you by the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, The Lakies (aka "quite possibly not the least prestigious Great Lakes-focused awards ceremony there is”) are back.

Our goal isn`t to be the Official Arbiters of Quality, but to host a fun celebration of amazing Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and communication in the inimitable Teach Me style.

Nomination categories are:
-Great Lakes Science Communication of the Year
-Great Lakes Outreach Program of the Year
-Great Lakes News Event of the Year
-Great Lakes Research Finding of the Year
-Coolest Thing You Learned Listening to TMATGL in 2025
-Science Podcast of the Year (Non-TMATGL edition)
-Great Lakes Animal of the Year
-Great Lakes Non-Animal of the Year
-Great Lakes Sandwich of the Year
-Great Lakes Donut of the Year

The Details:
-Deadline: Nominations close on December 4th.
Process: It`s easy (just enter the name/title and a link).
-Self-Nominations: Highly encouraged. Don`t be shy.

We’d love to get a broad swath of work across both the serious and less-serious categories to celebrate. Feel free to pass the link on to interested people: https://bit.ly/Lakies25

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The gales of November may come early, but, as usual, the nominations for the Lakies are right on time along with our official call for nominations! Brought to you by the Teach Me About the Great Lakes podcast, The Lakies (aka "quite possibly not the least prestigious Great Lakes-focused awards ceremony there is”) are back. Our goal isn't to be the Official Arbiters of Quality, but to host a fun celebration of amazing Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and communication in the inimitable Teach Me style.Nomination categories are:-Great Lakes Science Communication of the Year-Great Lakes Outreach Program of the Year-Great Lakes News Event of the Year-Great Lakes Research Finding of the Year-Coolest Thing You Learned Listening to TMATGL in 2025-Science Podcast of the Year (Non-TMATGL edition)-Great Lakes Animal of the Year-Great Lakes Non-Animal of the Year-Great Lakes Sandwich of the Year-Great Lakes Donut of the YearThe Details: -Deadline: Nominations close on December 4th.Process: It's easy (just enter the name/title and a link).-Self-Nominations: Highly encouraged. Don't be shy.We’d love to get a broad swath of work across both the serious and less-serious categories to celebrate. Feel free to pass the link on to interested people: https://bit.ly/Lakies25

Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension
‌
When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM EST
Where: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944
Registration Link in bio.
‌
Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:
-Hear Research Findings
-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session
-Learn Real World Application
-Tour a Shrimp Farm
-Network at the “After Hour Social”
‌
This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.
‌
For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)

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Making Sense of Social Media: Presented by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Purdue Extension‌When: December 6, 2025, from 1 - 4:00 PM ESTWhere: RDM Shrimp, RDM Shrimp, 101 N 850 E, Fowler, IN 47944Registration Link in bio.‌Social media can be a great way to market your small business and products, but sometimes it might feel like you are casting a net again and again to find that your net is empty. After all, the point of using social media marketing is to connect with customers. By attending this workshop, you will:-Hear Research Findings-Participate in an Interactive Workshop Session-Learn Real World Application-Tour a Shrimp Farm-Network at the “After Hour Social”‌This program is supported by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and put on in partnership with the Indiana Aquaculture Association Inc, RDM Shrimp, and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University.‌For questions contact Amy Shambach by email (ashambac@purdue.edu) or phone (317-238-0511)
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