Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team Meeting Minutes

June 22-23, 1999

Comments from Team Leader

The Team has been meeting for 5 years now, so we have a past to look back on, as well as a future to work towards. The ecosystem teams are important to the Service and we must continue to take this seriously.

John Christian referenced the Director's visit to the Team's meeting in March - she has praised the Team subsequently. The Team is continuing to do new things with new partners. The Team participated in the Sustainable America conference, which required considerable effort on the part of several Team members. As a result, the Deputy Secretary contacted John expressing interest in the Detroit River and, subsequently, developed a Livability initiative. John reported on Clean Water Action and Fishery Habitat Restoration proposals - three CWA projects and one FHR project submitted by GLBE Team member stations were funded. To facilitate funding to ecosystem teams, Region 3 is packaging its five flexible Refuge pots of funding in a single request for proposals. The whooping crane reintroduction project is proceeding, with three public meetings recently being held in Wisconsin. There was almost unanimous support expressed by the public at the meetings.

Bill Hartwig (Region 3 RD) requests support from Region 3's ecosystem teams relative to pursuing activities through the Midwest Natural Resource Group, which has initiated an ecosystem approach at the Federal agency level in the Midwest. The RD is looking for a few projects for each focus area in which Federal agencies can collaborate. Two focus areas are led by the Service in the Great Lakes: Saginaw Bay (McClain) and Green Bay (Smith). The RD requests that this Team consider including the other Federal agencies in Team meetings and identify two or three collaborative projects in each of these areas.

John will be advertising a GS-12/13 biologist (ecosystem coordinator) position in the near future to support the GLBE and Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Teams. Awards were presented to John Rogner, Larry Martin, Doug Spencer, and Tom Busiahn for there efforts in recent Region 3 congressional briefings; Dave Pederson was also acknowledged for his participation in this effort.

Sherry Morgan (Region 5) reported on ecosystem team activities in Region 5. Region 5 convened its annual ecosystem team meeting in Cape May, New Jersey, which includes Region 5's regional directorate team (all ARDs); Jamie Clark and representatives of the Implementation Team also participated. All of Region 5's program supervisors are now on board. Region 5 will be advertising for the project leader position for the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office in July. Sherry observed how are ecosystem approach has resulted in increased cross-programmatic collaboration.

Jamie Geiger (Region 5 Fisheries ARD) welcomed the Team to Region 5. Jaime pointed out that the GLBE Team was doing ecosystem approach before it became "fashionable." We need to think about the ecosystem as a whole, not as individual regions but resource issues across the watershed. The PARDs are working to bring in new funding.

Tom Busiahn reported that Kirtland's warblers were identified in the Lake Superior basin. Nick Rowse reported that TCFO has developed recommendations for the Duluth-Superior Harbor superfund clean-up. A piping plover nest became active again on Chequomegon Point - it produced four young last year.

Mark Holey reported on the Lake Michigan LaMP and establishment of a monitoring network. He reported on the Green Bay NRDA and stated that reports that address consumption advisories, impacts on walleyes, and others, have recently been released. A big issue is treaty fisheries and ongoing negotiations.

Tracy Hill reported on ongoing activities associated with Saginaw Bay, as well as documentation of sturgeon spawning and observation of disk-tagged sturgeon on a Northern St. Clair River spawning site. Sturgeon may be traveling hundreds of miles to this spawning site. Doug Spencer reported that the judge signed off on the Saginaw settlement on June 7, so Shiawassee NWR may be acquiring Charity Islands before long. An unintentional release of untreated sewage occurred on the Flint River, which may result in settlement dollars available for fishery restoration efforts. Congressman Regula has approved $800 + K for acquisition of land for the proposed Great Lakes Visitor Center. Doug Spencer reported that water levels are down. Michigan DNR put on a workshop and published a report to initiate a Lake Huron LaMP.

Doug Spencer reported on the Humbug Marsh situation. Th DEQ denied the permit but identified what needs to be done to correct the deficiencies, which leaves the door open for the applicant to reapply. Surveys at the site were done for native mussels. For Grassy Island, three of four contaminants reports have been completed by USGS-BRD; the reports should be available shortly. The fourth report is still in internal review. Shiawassee NWR paid for display space for the Service's display at Sustainable America event, staffed by East Lansing Field Office, and set up by Jim Hudgins.

Larry Martin said the Lake Erie focus area (Midwest Natural Resources Group) met last fall. We are also trying to integrate wildlife into the Lake Erie LaMP and to conduct some wetland restorations. Rich Greenwood reported that EPA is considering moving the LaMP process out of planning and into implementation.

Kofi Fynn-aikens reported on a recent research conference in Windsor addressing research activities in Lake Erie. Kofi and a colleague proposed consideration of three sub-habitats (western/central/eastern) within the lake, though this met some resistance from the rest of the group. Kofi submitted a proposal to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for a GIS information-sharing project. Last week a Lake Erie LaMP meeting was convened.

Kent Kroonemeyer reported that the Ashtabula River settlement has been signed. The Service will be listing the Lake Erie watersnake as a threatened species in the near future. We're funding a perpetual display and a traveling display on the snake. A micro brewery on one of the Lake Erie islands on which the snake occurs will be developing a new brew named "Lake Erie water snake ale."

Dave Stilwell reported on a tribal training workshop with NRCS; we have lots of opportunities to work with the tribes and this training was valuable in that regard. Not all tribes are supportive of Federal involvement. Kofi reported on last week's LaMP meeting - the LaMP is trying to establish goals on the American side. Other groups will be invited at the next meeting. Tom Jasikoff reported on the launching of a research institute based around Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which includes participation by Cornell University and USGS-BRD. The local congressman (Tom Reynolds) is supportive of the Service. Fred Caslick reported that the Canadian Wildlife Service is developing a fact sheet for the Niagara River Corridor. NRDA settlement money will be spent on projects before long.

An open house was held at St. Lawrence Management District in September. The largest Region 5 RONs project was awarded for grassland restoration. Dan Ashe and Tony Leger will be visiting the area in the near future. The tern kitty project was completed. An international bird initiative for the area is being considered. Six important bird areas have been designated within the St. Lawrence.

A rough draft of a sturgeon brochure has been developed. The sturgeon web site is up and running - several universities and state agencies will be added to the site. The Committee is working to standardize data collection.

Mike Tansy reported that Jenny Wilson (ELFO) developed a GIS for common tern nesting locations. Mike has had a difficult time getting responses from committee members, given everyone's time constraints. Common terns in upper GL are in decline.

No report.

The committee is gathering available information on islands. The Michigan National Heritage program will be contacted, as will Minnesota in the data gathering activity.

Rich attended the Service's coastal program meeting last week. Jennifer Greiner (WO Coastal Program Chief) is interested in developing a fact sheet for the Great Lakes. There are two pending estuary bills that may involve the Great Lakes. SOLEC issued a draft indicators document for review - NWI has provided comments; there are opportunities for other Service input. The biennial Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement report is out for review and provides an opportunity for Serviced input - Rich solicited input from the Team, which is due to him next week. Formation of an informal "Good Government for Great Lakes" has been formed; the group will seek to tie together various programs and increase support, develop common messages, develop methods to improve communications, address crisis issues, garner legislative support, and coordinate long-term goals. Clean Water Action Plan - the Great Lakes did not receive a lot of attention in the first draft. The TNC submitted a proposal for a Coastal Wetland grant, which seeks to acquire alvar habitat.

Doug updated the Team on the process for prioritizing the submitted proposals. Doug and Bob Krska identified criteria for ranking the proposals submitted by Great Lakes offices, which included whether the proposal was within the Team's focus areas, partnerships, and matching funds. The proposals were separated out into CWAP and FHR proposals. Each proposal was evaluated and ranked. Subsequent discussion concluded that there are some procedural issues for the development and collation/ranking of such proposals in the future that need to be addressed, including the need to address these types of funding sources similarly across the two regions to support the Team. Summaries of the results of the CWAP/FHR exercise from Region 3 may help Region 5 establish a similar approach in the future, which may benefit the Team.

Tom handed out a list summarizing eleven procedural/structural processes established by the

Team at the basin, geographic, and regional levels and suggested how to further implement and improve them. The Team discussed how to improve participation in flexible funding opportunities and brainstormed several ideas:

• Utilize Basin Sub-teams to generate proposals
• The Executive Committee is in plan to coordinate requests for flexible funding opportunities but is too cumbersome for short deadline activities
• Guidance to the Team's field stations should include provisions for integrating Team priorities into any proposals that are developed
• The Team's GARDs should identify the need for their respective regional offices to provide sufficient time for the Team to coordinate flexible funding opportunities, e.g., develop guidance and solicit proposals, review and rank (if necessary) proposals, and collate the Team's response, in the regional offices' requests for proposals

No consensus was reached on how to modify the Team's approach, though it was agreed that the Basin Sub-teams would work to generate proposals and the ExCom will continue, in the mean time, to serve a coordination function, soliciting proposals, ranking (if needed), collating, etc. The Team will address this and other procedural issues at the next meeting.

Sheila Sleggs distributed a brochure entitled, "The Montezuma Wetlands Complex Initiative" and provided an slide overview of activities in this area.

Bob Lange (Department of Environmental Conservation) discussed some of the ecosystem approach (Great Lakes fishery management) issues being faced by DEC, with emphasis on exotic species. Angling is an integral part of fisheries management. We're mostly managing fisheries at the local level with an ecosystem approach/perspective. The ecosystem approach is a new way to consider fisheries management. He believes we sometimes get too "cosmic" with the ecosystem approach - it takes time to integrate these broader considerations. Bob discussed the Lake Ontario situation, though the principles apply beyond this watershed. Atlantic salmon essentially disappeared after middle of 19^th century due to dam construction for mills. Excessive nutrient loadings and introduction of exotics (especially alewives) have had major impacts on the Lake. Alewives have been implicated in thiamine level reductions in predators that forage on them (alewives have an enzyme that breaks down thiamine) resulting in early mortality syndrome, which is a major problem in lake trout in Lake Ontario and production of hatchery coho in Lake Michigan. Fishery management on Lake Ontario acknowledges the significance of the alewife fishery and an approach of not harming alewife population has been adopted.

Another concern is the zebra mussel. Recent research into observed reduced phosphorus levels (total) is due more to the effects of zebra mussels than the success of phosphorus abatement efforts. Quagga mussels have essentially replaced zebra mussels in Lake Erie and are beginning to do the same in Lake Ontario. Another species is the deepwater scud, which is an important prey species and which feeds on dead diatoms. Their numbers are decreasing in waters shallower than 70 meters, which may be due to competition with Quagga mussels for diatom detritus. The round goby, which feeds on zebra mussels and fish eggs, has been discovered in Buffalo harbor and in other locations. We need to emphasize natural reproduction of native species, pursue functional rehabilitation (restore food webs where broken and restore energy transfer efficiency regardless of species), and protect habitat.

Tom Busiahn distributed a handout on the Act and provided an overview. With significant work on the part of the Service and partners, the Act was reauthorized in 1998, though the authorized funding levels have not yet been appropriated ($3.5 million for the Service and $4.5 million for partner projects); currently, $1.575 has been appropriated to the Service. The Team set a priority to get the Act reauthorized and now that it has, where do we want to go?

Mark provided an overview of the Fisheries Restoration Study recommendations. The 32 recommendations address a range of issues, including fisheries, wildlife, GIS, monitoring, fish health, fish genetics, trust responsibilities to the resources and tribes, habitat, and contaminants. The Service will follow the study plans in spending the money once appropriated. The Council of Lakes Committee, which meets in April, will develop procedures for seeking proposals and will make funding recommendations, though the Director will make final funding decisions. Bob Adair has been assigned as the Service's representative to the Council and to the Proposal Review Committee. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, as well, has a role to play in developing the proposal process. $75,000 is being appropriated by the Service for partnership projects.

With regard to the $4.5 million authorized for partner projects, the Team may have an opportunity to work with partners to develop proposals. There have been no decisions regarding reestablishing the Great Lakes Coordination Office. Tom suggested that pursuing recommended actions with available funding will show incentive and progress, which may lead to increased funding levels. A general progress report from Service is due to Congress in December 2002. An initial round of proposals will be due to the Council and Review Committee some time by the end of the calendar year.

The Team identified some ways to integrate some of the study's recommendations into Team activities, although no firm commitments were made to pursue any specific action items:

1) LE can work with the Council of Lakes Committee to help generate LE-specific proposals.

2) Identify FTE needs in any project proposals developed.

3) Inject Team needs into RONs and FONs proposals.

4) Team could hire a SCEP to complete a specific project, e.g., GIS accessibility on the internet.

5) Further develop the Team's website on Region 3's home page.

Larry Martin described the establishment of the Cormorant Committee and some initial projects funded through the Team's kitty. The Committee has been working well across the Great Lakes in the two regions, though the cormorant issue is much broader than this ecosystem. The Team will have an opportunity to provide input to the national management plan if a plan is ultimately developed. There are now 17 committee members representing Regions 3 and 5 and the WO, as well as all programs.

Mike Tansy presented an overview of the biology, status, and management issues associated with the cormorant in the Great Lakes, including historic numbers, population increases since the 1970s, and the types of impacts cormorants may be having on fisheries, vegetation, and other colonial nesting bird species.

John Trapp (WO) introduced a session on concerns related to fisheries. Concern for impacts of cormorants on fisheries was a major issue around the turn of the century, so this is not necessarily a new concern on a historical basis. Studies have shown that cormorants are opportunistic and, in general, have not been shown to significantly impact sport fish populations in open waters. Specific reports were provided:

Lake Ontario and Oneida Lake (Fred Caslick) - stocking practices on Lake Ontario have been modified to minimize impacts; there is a wide range in the level of predation on smallmouth bass from year to year, with the percentage of the population impacted also varying; on Oneida Lake, cormorants may be having an impact on the walleye population, with hazing being effective in protecting adult walleye.

Lake Erie (Larry Martin) - a study in the early 1990s of predation of a variety of bird species on fish in western Lake Erie determined that migrating red-breasted mergansers took more than twice as many fish as cormorants. Cormorant populations were lower in the early 1990s and statistics would probably be different at the current time.

Lakes Huron and Michigan (Steve Lewis) - in Lake Huron, the percentage of yellow perch eaten by cormorants varied during the year from relatively low to relatively high, though only about 9% of the 45% total yellow perch mortality was accounted for by cormorants; in Green Bay, the Door County Conservation Congress (advisory to Wisconsin DNR) wants to meet with the Service and DNR later this summer.

Steve concluded that extrapolation of study results from one localized area in the Great Lakes to other areas is risky, that we don't know if cormorant predation is additive or compensatory mortality, and that resolution of the cormorant issue is largely a fish allocation issue, as per Ken Stromborg.

An overview was also provided on concerns related to vegetation and other birds. Three potential impacts have been identified: 1) killing nesting trees within a few years and impacting native plant communities, though specific plant species impacted have not been inventoried/listed 2) changing habitat used by other colonial nesting birds because of their shear numbers, though the actual impact has not been quantified - impacts to ground-nesting colonial nesting waterbirds are less clear 3) directly impacting other nesting birds, i.e., competition with other species for nesting sites. Additional monitoring and research are needed to better understand these impacts and their ecological significance.

Lake-specific reports were presented:

Lakes Ontario and Champlain (Diane Pence) - herons and egrets on Lake Champlain have moved on; the Service authorized the oiling of the eggs in nests of 3,000 nesting pairs in Lake Champlain; the largest cormorant colony in the Great Lakes is in Lake Ontario on Little Galloo Island - egg oiling was authorized for the interest of protecting the nesting of other colonial nesting birds, not for the purpose of protecting fishery resources.

Lake Erie (Larry Martin) - Vegetation on Middle Sister and East Sister Island in Canada have been affected; West Sister Island has shown little vegetation effects at present though cormorant numbers have been stable since 1995; we don=t have sufficient information to make strong conclusions to document vegetative impacts.

Lake Huron (Mike Tansy and Steve Lewis) - cormorants don't nest in the same habitat as ring-billed gulls and Caspian terns but there may be some impacts on herring gulls, and certainly there are impacts on tree-nesting colonial birds; on Little Charity Island, heron and egret populations have remained stable despite the presence of cormorants.

Lake Michigan (Steve Lewis) - some islands have been colonized by cormorants; on those that have been colonized, some describe them as "deserts."

Steve Lewis provided an overview of the cormorant status assessment. The Team has supported a status assessment of the interior population of the cormorant by Francine Cuthbert of the University of Minnesota with a final report summarizing information useful to development of a management plan and including status and trend data, summary of diet studies, management options, and summary of ongoing research and research needs. The assessment is due this fall.

John Trapp, Diane Pence, and Steve Lewis reported on proposed cormorant management plan, the development of which the Director will soon be asked to approve. If approved, a combined management plan/EIS will be done by fall 2000. John Trapp, Diance Pence, and Steve Lewis also reported on population control issues. Fred Caslick reported on outreach efforts, which include a fact sheet series due out shortly and a video.

Federal Aid may play a role in addressing the cormorant issue on a state by state basis or on a broader basis.

Rick Greenblat of Region 3's Regional Office presented a 2-hour training session for Region 3 project leaders on Merit System Principles to accommodate project leaders satisfying this training requirement.

Day 2

Tom Busiahn led a discussion on aquatic nuisance species and the significant role the Team may play in addressing this issue. Invasive species have been identified as one of the Director's four priorities. There has been a change in leadership relative to invasive species, including Cathy Short now leading the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Mike Ielmini is the coordinator for invasive species (aquatic and terrestrial) for the Refuge Program in the Washington Office. He explained that an Invasive Species Council (Federal) is being formed via Executive Order, which will be influenced by a non-Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee. A major budget initiative is being developed for Refuges at $2.1 million - we will need to prioritize to deal with all the critical issues for which we will not likely get funding increases.

The Team discussed the merits of making invasive species a resource priority by pooling resources and elevating the issue as a team-based effort. It's more than a defacto priority and the Team needs to find a role for the Team to add value to the Service addressing this issue. The Team agreed to make this issue a priority and formed a core group to flesh it out, including Sandy Keppner, Nick Rowse, Tom Busiahn, Terry Morse, Doug Spencer, Region 5 Federal Aid rep. This group will convene a conference call within 30 days and will report any recommendations at the next Team meeting.

The Committees were charged with addressing modifications to the biennial work plan (any modifications should be provided to Bob Krska, who will incorporate the changes to the work plan) and research needs. The cormorant, migratory bird, and island committees met jointly.

The next meeting will be convened on September 28 and 29, 1999, in Marquette, Michigan. The Marquette Biological Station (John Heinrich) will set up the hotel and meeting facilities. Field stations near Marquette were requested to work together to come up with a social event, e.g., fish fry, barbecue, etc., during one of the evenings.

Tom presented the results of discussions of the GIS working group, which included the recommendation to pursue a pilot effort, based on one or more of the Team's resource priorities, to develop GIS capability. Initial GIS needs identified include:

cormorants - fish data, ownership of areas inhabited by cormorants, single vs. multi-species locations, and potential foraging range of major colonies

sturgeon - locations of spawning sites and passage blockages

land protection - acquisition and restoration priorities

migratory birds - ownership of islands with significant colonial waterbird colonies

After open discussion, the Team decided that more deliberations are needed on this issue and will plan a special session at the September Team meeting. This session will include a presentation of GIS capability by the LaCrosse Research Lab, presentations on Region 3 and Region 5 (Linda Schaeffer) GIS capability, an update on GIS of the ORVE Team (Cookeville Field Office), presentation of committee GIS needs, and open discussion of how to proceed.

The Lake Sturgeon Committee will finalize its research priorities by the end of July

John Rogner reported on efforts to plan the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team symposium at he next conference in December in Chicago. The call for papers has gone out. The symposium will be included in the next call for papers and will address migratory birds, fish, invasive species, conservation of unique habitats, environmental contaminants, and development of public awareness. John asked for names of potential speakers during the next couple weeks; abstracts of speakers' presentations are due August 15. The Team's Symposium planning committee will convene another conference call to continue planning efforts. An issue that needs to be addressed is attendance authorization, which is important to ensure meeting attendees may be reimbursed for registration fees. The Director will be invited to participate; it was suggested that the invitation to the Director include a request to waive approval of nominations for attendance at the Symposium of Team members. Symposium details with identification of speakers and topics need to be finalized by mid-August.

Dave Stilwell requested that the Team support efforts to address restoration of American eels in the St. Lawrence River. He will draft a letter of support from the Team with respect to American eels, to be signed by Tom Busiahn on behalf of the Team.

It was recommended that Tom Busiahn prepare a letter of thanks to Bob Lange (NY DEC) and Sheila Sleggs (DU) for participation in our meeting.

During the brainstorming of potential agenda items for the September meeting, the need for the ExCom to clarify its role relative to the rest of the Team was identified. Tom Busiahn suggested an ExCom retreat to address this issue, though not date/place was set.

John Rogner presented an overview of efforts in urban areas, in general, and the Chicago metro area, specifically, including the Chicago Wilderness. Jim Lyons of USDA was the "hit" speaker at a recent national urban conference, which highlights the fact that the Service is not a major player in conservation efforts in urban areas. John believes we have major opportunities in urban areas.

Cyndi Duda presented a slide show of environmental education activities in the Chicago metro area. She has developed workshops to provide teachers with hands-on experiences and related curriculum materials. Current workshops focus on wetlands, water quality, and endangered species. In addition, six Discovery Trunks have been developed for loan to educators (topics include wetlands, tallgrass prairies, endangered species, migratory birds, water quality, and watchable wildlife). Cyndi offered Team members assistance with education efforts and encouraged them to contact her for teacher education materials and resources. Cyndi reported on various ongoing efforts, including: 1) the Junior Earth Team - Service partnership with Chicago Park District and the Field Museum; we teach inner city teens about natural resources of their local parks; they are then eligible for internships with the Park District; this is an effort to recruit urban youth into the conservation profession; 2) the Chicago Urban Resources Partnership - Federal natural resource agency partnership program initiated by USDA and currently in 13 metro areas; USDA provides dollars and the partnership selects community driven proposals for funding and technical assistance; many of the projects selected in Chicago have benefitted resident and migratory wildlife species.

• The Team leader will solicit proposals seeking flexible funding; basin sub-teams will be mobilized to generate proposals; the Executive Committee will evaluate, rank (if necessary), and collate proposals.
• Team members are encouraged to recommend non-Federal contacts for the Invasive Species Advisory Council (to Gordon Brown of DOI).
• GARDs (John Christian and Sherry Morgan) to work with programs in their respective regions to ensure sufficient time for substantive Team participation in seeking flexible funding through regional competitions.
• GARDs (John Christian and Sherry Morgan) will seek ways to address inconsistencies between Regions 3 and 5 on behalf of the Team.

• Region 3 to share with Region 5 the results of Region 3's distribution of CWAP/FHR funds to the ecosystem teams in an effort to increase consistency among the two regions to benefit the Team.
• Invasive species core group, led by Sandy Keppner, will convene a planning conference within 30 days and will report back to the Team at the next meeting.
• Committees to provide to Bob Krska any modifications to the biennial work plan (FYs 1999 and 2000), who will update the work plan.
• Next Team meeting: Marquette, Michigan, September 28 and 29. John Heinrich to make arrangements for the hotel and meeting facilities. Nearby field stations will work with John to develop a social event, e.g., fish fry, barbecue, etc.
• Committees to send to Bob modifications to biennial work plan - Bob will revise.
• Lake sturgeon committee to finalize its research priorities by the end of July.
• Invite the Director to the Team's Symposium at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference; request that she waive the need to approve nominations for Team members to attend the Conference and Symposium.
• Dave Stilwell will draft a letter of support of American eel restoration for Tom Busiahn to sign, on behalf of the Team.
• Rich Greenwood to transmit to the Team briefing materials on the Great Lakes water level gage issue.
• Tom Busiahn will prepare letters of thanks to Bob Lange and Sheila Sleggs for their presentations at the meeting.
• The Executive Committee was assigned the task of clarifying its role on behalf of the Team - perhaps through an ExCom retreat

• GIS - minimum of 2 hour discussion
• Half-day before the regular Team meeting begins dedicated to one committee breakout, followed by full-day regular meeting, followed by another half-day committee breakout - to allow committee members to participate in multiple committee activities
• Consider inviting Federal agencies of the Midwest Natural Resources Group and scheduling breakout sessions for the Green Bay and Saginaw Bay focus areas
• Discuss process issues from Tom's list, including management of the Team's kitty, establishment of committees/priorities, and addressing flexible funding proposals
• Briefing on Great Lakes water level gages
• Report and recommendations from Invasive Species core group
• Address the issue of the Team identifying priorities relative to other Service priorities in the Great Lakes, e.g., lake trout restoration is a Service priority in the Great Lakes but not a Team priority
• Status report on FY1999 projects funded through the Team's kitty
• Presentation by representatives of the Hatchery Program (Dale Bast?) on captive breeding opportunities for non-fish species, e.g., mussels, amphibians
• Update on planning for the GLBE Team symposium at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
• Status of staffing changes at the Great Lakes Science Center
• Status on development of the Service's cormorant management plan

• Greater representation of Region 5 field stations
• Sufficient time for committee breakout sessions
• Greater participation by Region 5 (Regional Office) and Washington Office staff
• Participation and presentations of outside guests and speakers
• Consistent participation by USGS-BRD

• Ensure invited speakers are provided assigned time on the agenda
• Encourage attendance by staff of local field stations
• Keep evenings free

Bob Krska, Mike Ielmini, Mark Holey, Tom Busiahn, Nick Rowse, Rich Greenwood John Heinrich, Aileen Boyd, Maeve Taylor, Jessica Smith, Terry Morse, Denny Lavis, Sheila Sleggs, Charlie VanDemeer, Walt Quist, Dorothy Gerhart, Steve Kahl, Doug Spencer, Larry Martin, Sherry Morgan, Bob Lumadue, Jim Gale, Bob Lamoy, John Rogner, Dave Pederson, Kent Kroonemeyer, Rick Nelson, Gary Klar, Dave Radloff, Roger Gordon, Bob Adair, Tracy Hill, Nancy Milton, Jim Johnson, Cyndi Duda, Ron Howey, Kofi Fynn-Aikins, Tom Jasikoff, Mike Tansy, Diane Kitchen, Jaime Geiger, John Christian, Dave Stilwell, Janet Smith, Fred Caslick, Sandy Keppner, Bob Lange, Jim Hudgins, Diane Pence, John Trapp, Steve Lewis.

Draft minutes prepared: June 25, 1999 (Krska)

Final minutes prepared: July 16, 1999 (Krska)