This Water Webinar will focus on the restoration of Muskegon Lake and its wetlands in Michigan. The presentation will cover water quality, ecosystem restoration, and socioeconomics. Muskegon Lake is a coastal river mouth lake with a history of environmental issues. Many restoration efforts reconnecting wetlands have improved water quality and lake habitat. A wetland restoration project reduced phosphorus concentrations from over 0.8 ppm (mg/L) to 0.03 ppm (mg/L), wow!  Research efforts provided a sound basis for restoration design and implementation.  These restoration efforts also showed a 5.8:1 return on investment with $1 billion in increased in shoreline development. The region experienced unexpected issues about public access and “blue gentrification.” A water [success!] story from which we all can learn here in Arkansas and across the USA.

SPEAKERS: Dr. Alan Steinman, PhD, Allen and Helen Hunting Research Professor, Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan