The Department of Environmental Quality, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office are inviting the public to attend the Sugar Island and Lake George Channel Public Symposium on May 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (doors will open at 4:30 p.m.) in the Anchor Room at the Cisler Center, Lake Superior State University, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The purpose of the symposium is to present 2007 water quality monitoring results and discuss the proposed 2008 Sugar Island/Lake George Channel Coordinated Monitoring Plan.

A binational Sugar Island Monitoring Work Group was formed to investigate the floating material and bacteriological contamination issues in the St. Mary's River in early 2007. The Work Group consists of representatives from the U.S. EPA, Environment Canada, DEQ, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Chippewa County Health Department, Algoma Public Health, Health Canada, Inter-Tribal Fisheries and Assessment Program, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and Bay Mills Indian Community.

Throughout 2007, the workgroup conducted inspections of the river for floating materials and performed weekly water monitoring of 30 stations. Representatives of the workgroup will be giving presentations and will be available to answer questions. A detailed agenda package will be available at the meeting.

For additional information on the symposium, contact Gary Kohlhepp at the DEQ at 517-335-1289 or kohlheppG@michigan.gov.

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

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

Revised May 5, 2008 by Pat Watson