Project Leader Jerry McClain participated in the annual Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources event, July 23, in Alpena, Michigan.  This annual event brings journalists from around the U.S. and Canada to tour locations in the Great Lakes where a variety of natural resource issues can be discussed and, in some cases, viewed first hand. 

The intent of the event is to stimulate interest by practicing journalists to do stories on regional natural resource issues.  This year’s event focused on issues in the northern part of lower Michigan, with primary focus on Lake Huron. 

Participants in the event included print journalists from Michigan and other Great Lakes states, western states, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.  In addition, a radio journalist from Michigan Public Radio also participated.

The panel discussion that McClain participated in dealt with the changing food web in Lake Huron and terms and implementation of the 2000 Consent Decree. 

Other stops on the tour included the Hammond Bay Biological Station and the Kirtland’s Warbler management areas near Grayling, Michigan.