Thursday, July 10, 2008

Register Now For SOLEC 2008

Jul 10: SOLEC 2008 will be held October 22–23, 2008, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. This year, emphasis will be on “The Nearshore.” In 1996, SOLEC focused on the nearshore lands and waters of the Great Lakes where biological productivity is greatest and where humans have maximum impact. In 2008, the conference will concentrate on what has changed with respect to the nearshore environments since 1996. Additional conditions and issues not evaluated in 1996 will also be addressed.

Presentations during day 1 of SOLEC will focus on the state of the Great Lakes based on indicator assessments and other information about nearshore areas. On day 2, the presentations will highlight information about each Great Lake, the connecting channels (including the Niagara River), and the St. Lawrence River with a focus on the nearshore areas and related issues, such as habitat loss, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), nutrients and water levels. Breakout sessions will follow the plenary presentations on both days. These afternoon sessions are an opportunity for participants to discuss the information that was presented in the morning as well as to debate more specific issues.


Draft State of the Great Lakes 2009 indicator reports and category assessments will be available in advance of the conference. These reports and assessments are being prepared by various authors from many agencies and organizations in order to assist with assessing the overall state of the Great Lakes. A draft background paper -- The Nearshore Areas of the Great Lakes 2008 -- will also be available in advance of the conference. Links to the State of the Great Lakes 2007 products are available on the registration website.

Access the SOLEC 2008 website for registration information and extensive background materials (click here). Access more information related to State of the Great Lakes Reporting and SOLEC (click here).

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