The Department of Environmental Quality, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office are announcing and inviting the public to attend the Sugar Island and Lake George Channel Public Symposium on June 9, at 7:00 p.m. The Symposium will be held at the Sugar Island Township Hall, 6401 East 1 1/2 Mile Road, Sugar Island.

The Sugar Island Monitoring Work Group will present the results of 2008 water quality monitoring conducted in the St. Marys River in the vicinity of Sugar Island and discuss proposed 2009 activities. Following the short presentation there will be significant time allocated to addressing remaining questions/concerns that stakeholders may have. A detailed agenda package will be available at the meeting, including a CD containing the 2008 report.

The binational Work Group was formed in early 2007 to investigate the floating material and bacteriological contamination issues in the St. Marys River. The Work Group consists of representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chippewa County Health Department, Algoma Public Health, Health Canada, Inter-Tribal Fisheries and Assessment Program, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Garden River First Nation, and Bay Mills Indian Community. Over the last two years, the Work Group has conducted inspections of the river for floating materials and weekly water monitoring of 30 stations, including stations along the Sugar Island reach of the St. Marys River.

Additional information on the Work Group and the Symposium is available from Michelle Selzer, Area of Concern Coordinator, Aquatic Nuisance Control and Remedial Action Unit, Surface Water Assessment Section, Water Bureau, at 517-241-3731 or selzerm@michigan.gov.

Editor's Note: DEQ news releases are availble on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised May 27, 2009 by Rosemarie Olszewski