1. Dynamic speakers. Hot topics. Uniquely local perspectives.
ONE IRREPLACEABLE RIVER.
C O N F E R E N C E 2014
STATE HURON
Creating Our Own BLUE FUTURE
of
the
Thursday, April 24 • 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Washtenaw Community College • Morris Lawrence Building • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Sponsored by:
Presented by:
Photo: K. Matz

2. WELCOME!
The Huron River watershed is a natural treasure.The Huron River meanders through remnant forests, agricultural areas,
and a complex series of wetlands, lakes, and urban environments before flowing into the western basin of Lake Erie. The
watershed (908 mi2
) is home to a half-million people, supplies drinking water to over 150,000 people, supports one of
Michigan’s finest smallmouth bass fisheries, and is the only designated Scenic River in southeastern Michigan. The watershed
contains two-thirds of this area’s public recreation lands, and is home to numerous threatened and endangered plant and
animal species and habitat types. All of this speaks highly to the health and the fragility of this special area, and the need for
active community stewardship.
The State of the Huron Conference is a convening of community stewards and a day of learning,inspiration,and action. This
year,our focus for the conference is“Creating our Blue Future.” The Huron RiverWatershed Council (HRWC) is working
with private and public partners to spark a river renaissance,known as RiverUp! RiverUp! is a plan for the Huron River’s
future – a strategy to realize the goal of a vibrant,robust and fully restored river as a destination for residents and tourists.
RiverUp! approaches this ambitious endeavor with a focus on three objectives – Fix Up!, Clean Up!, and Build Up!. You can
learn more at “RiverUp! Revitalizing the River Corridor” in the Huron River Economy track, Placemaking H2
O session.
We are proud of the progress made on RiverUp! projects up
and down the river. These efforts include clean-ups of contam-
inated properties, water and land trail development, portage
improvements, economic development opportunities such as
restaurants, liveries, and redevelopment, and public outreach
and marketing. This progress is made possible through diverse
partnerships with business leaders, downtown development
authorities, recreational enthusiasts, state and local legislators,
local government planners and staff, artists, and historians. We
hope you will find inspiration in this vision and an area where
you can get involved.
Enjoy the day and thank you for coming,
Laura Rubin, Executive Director
Creating Our Own Blue Future
Conference Tracks and Sessions At-a-Glance
TRACK 1 The Huron River’s Blue Economy
10:15 AM TheValue of River Recreation
1:45 PM Placemaking H2
O
3:15 PM Telling Our Story
TRACK 2 Science and Policy
10:15 AM Blue Science
1:45 PM PolicyTools forWater Protection
3:15 PM No Longer Business as Usual –
The Huron in a Changing Climate
TRACK 3 How DO We Create a
Blue Future?
10:15 AM Making Infrastructure Green
1:45 PM Wicked Problems: Fracking,
Pipelines and Aquatic Invasives
3:15 PM Bringing More People Under theTent
Photo: A. Savage
riveruphuron.org huronriverwatertrail.org

3. C O N F E R E N C E AG E N DA
7:30 - 8:30 AM Registration Check-In and Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 AM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:Blue is the New Green,
JohnAustin,Director,Michigan Economic Center
9:30 - 10:00 AM WELCOME and the STATE OF THE HURON
Laura Rubin, Executive Director,
Huron River Watershed Council
— 15-minute transition to concurrent sessions —
TRACK1TRACK2
The Huron River Economy – TheValue of River Recreation (Room 101)
Insights from Recreation andTourism Professionals Water-based businesses play a significant part in the Blue
Economy by providing jobs, generating local revenue, and pioneering new strategies and technologies. Our speakers will
share first-hand experiences with building successful ventures around the clean waters of the Huron River. Mary Kerr,
President and CEO Ann Arbor Area Convention &Visitors Bureau; Cheryl Saam, Livery Manager, City of Ann Arbor; and Mike
Schultz, Owner, Schultz Outfitters, LLC
Science and Policy – Blue Science (Room 103/123)
The State of the Huron’s River andTributaries Over the past two years, HRWC staff have compiled data on the
Huron River and its tributaries at a creekshed scale, including data on fish, macroinvertebrates, land cover, stream habitat,
bacteria, flow, and phosphorus. HRWC has ranked and scored these parameters in order to graphically portray where
the problem areas are located. Successes and challenges throughout the watershed over the last five years will also be
discussed. Paul Steen, Watershed Ecologist, HRWC
Environmental Flows for the Huron River System: Chuck McDowell and Yu-Chen Wang, Graduate Researchers,
University of Michigan
1 0 : 1 5 - 1 1 : 3 0 A M • C O N C U R R E N T S E S S I O N S I
TRACK3
How DO We Create a Blue Future? Making Infrastructure Green (Room 105/121)
Cost-effective Retrofitting with the Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard: Hal Sprague, Water Policy
Manager, Center for Neighborhood Technology
Green Infrastructure – Ann Arbor’s Roadmap for Protecting the Huron River The City of Ann Arbor’s recently
drafted and approved “Green Streets Policy Statement Consisting of Stormwater Guidelines for Public Street Construc-
tion and Reconstruction,” provide a mechanism to ensure that stormwater runoff is treated for pollutant removal at the
source,as well as strengthening the connection with the built environment and the natural environment. Jennifer Lawson,
Water Quality Manager, City of Ann Arbor
Green Infrastructure Policy: Washtenaw County The County is at the forefront of integrating Green Infrastructure
into stormwater management.This presentation will provide an overview of the main proposed changes to current storm-
water regulations, how those changes might affect stakeholders, and a summary of the ongoing public involvement process.
Evan Pratt, Water Resources CommissionerWashtenaw County
STATE OF THE HURON
How can Michigan be a
leader in the Blue Economy?
How does the Huron River
connect to the broader move-
ment? John Austin will outline
economic and environmental
opportunities that leverage
Michigan’s Great Lakes and
inland river resources.

4. TRACK1TRACK2
The Huron River Economy – Placemaking H2
O (Room 101)
Maximizing the River for Community Development Learn how the Huron River’s RiverUp! program is working to
assist communities to maximize waterways as signature community assets to attract residents, visitors, and businesses.
Elizabeth Riggs, Deputy Director, HRWC
TrailTowns – Making Destinations of the River’sTowns: Michelle Aniol, Community Development Manager,Village
of Dexter; Anita Twardesky, TrailTowns Coordinator, HRWC; and Christian Wuerth, Manager,Village of Milford
Science and Policy – Policy Tools for Water Protection (Room 103/123)
Michigan InlandWater Laws, Key Concepts, and Current Issues Assistant Attorney General Dan Bock will
present an overview of Michigan water law, focusing on riparian rights, the public trust doctrine, and the state’s police
power with regard to inland lakes and streams. Daniel Bock, Assistant Attorney General, Environment, Natural Resources,
and Agriculture Division
Local Policies forWater Resource Protection Local communities are protecting the watershed with ordinances and
policies that ensure development and land use activities occur in a way that keeps it healthy.After an overview of the
kinds of ordinances most important to consider for water quality protection, local officials will share their experiences,
and a roundtable discussion will capture attendees’ questions, comments, and insights. Sally Elmiger, Associate, Carlisle/
Wortman Associates, Inc.; Kris Olsson,Watershed Ecologist, HRWC; and Mark St. Charles, Supervisor, Green OakTownship
1 : 4 5 - 3 : 0 0 P M • C O N C U R R E N T S E S S I O N S I I
TRACK3
How DO We Create a Blue Future?Wicked Problems (Room 105/121)
Fracking in Michigan: Where DoWe Stand? With ongoing headlines throughout Michigan and the United States
about hydraullic fracturing (or “fracking” as it is frequently called) and its potential environmental, social and economic
impacts, we are typically left with more questions than answers.This presentation will directly address fracking’s potential
ramifications on Michigan’s natural resources, as well as the current regulatory climate surrounding the issue. Attendees
will leave the presentation with the information and tools to get involved and ensure their voice is heard as further regu-
latory changes are considered. Jack Schmitt, Deputy Director, Michigan League of ConservationVoters
Pipelines: Tar Sands in the Great Lakes Since the 2010 Enbridge oil spill into the Kalamazoo River, the increase of tar
sands transportation in the Great Lakes has become one of the largest threats facing our waters and communities.Walk
through lessons learned from the Kalamazoo River spill, pipeline expansions in the region and how communities can become
involved to both prevent tar sands pipeline expansions and pipeline spills. Beth Wallace, Owner, SURF Great Lakes
ProtectingYourWaters from Invasion – Aquatic Invasive Species Management in Michigan Protecting your
waters from the harmful effects of aquatic invasive species (AIS) requires prevention, early detection, management and
control. This talk will focus on how the State of Michigan’s AIS program can help in each area. Kevin Walters, Aquatic
Biologist, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality -Water Resources Division
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Buffet Lunch followed by HRWC Annual Awards
12:30 - 1:30 PM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
Across the Continent by Kayak,
Canoe and Dogsled,
Amy and Dave Freeman,Adventure
Educators and National Geographic
2014Adventurer of theYear Honorees
Michigan Recreation and ParksAssociation
Award Presentation to RiverUp!
— 15-minute transition to concurrent sessions —
Photo: B. Hansel
Amy and Dave Freeman,
adventure educators who
paddled, dogsledded, and
hiked 11,647 miles across
North America while
85,000 students helped
shape their course will
share their travelogue.

5. TRACK1TRACK2
The Huron River Economy – Telling Our Story (Room 101)
It Almost Started Here:the Huron River in theWar of 1812: Daniel Harrison,Librarian,Henry Ford Community College
Osprey Reintroduction Along the Huron From 1998-2007 Ospreys were introduced into the Southern half of the
lower Peninsula. Reached 10 years ahead of schedule, the goal was 30 nesting pairs by 2020. Hear more about the
reintroduction program and learn new efforts to track Michigan Osprey migration via satellite telemetry. Barb Jensen,
OspreyWatch of Southeast Michigan
History of the Huron River: From Power Source to Recreational Haven: Grace Shackman, Historian
Science and Policy – No Longer Business As Usual –
the Huron in a Changing Climate (Room 103/123)
Building Climate-Resilient Communities From stormwater to river flows, natural areas to urban forests, learn
what natural resource managers are doing to build resilience to climate change in the communities of the watershed.
Rebecca Esselman, Watershed Planner, HRWC
Climate Change and the Huron RiverWatershed A presentation of the significant changes in temperature and precipitation
in the Great Lakes Region and how they are amplifying the challenges of watershed management. Dan Brown, Research
Associate, Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments
Climate Change and Instream Flows: What it means to paddlers and anglers Climate change predictions
suggest that the Huron River will have a markedly different flow regime and character compared to its present
condition. But what will this look like exactly? We will explore these changes by comparing the present Huron river
with other Michigan rivers that now resemble what the Huron River is likely to become.The results will surprise
you! Jeff Schaeffer, Research Fishery Biologist, USGS Great Lakes Science Center
3 : 1 5 - 4 : 3 0 P M • C O N C U R R E N T S E S S I O N S I I I
TRACK3
How DO We Create a Blue Future? Bringing More People Under theTent
(Room 105/121)
Lessons on Inclusion from NearYet Far This panel discussion will take local lessons from peer organizations to
help identify ways to bring more community members under our organizational tent, and how to make the tent larger.
Jason Frenzel,Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator, HRWC; Amanda Edmonds, Executive Director, Growing Hope;
Guy Williams, President and CEO of DetroitersWorking for Environmental Justice (DWEJ), and Founder of G.O.Williams &
Associates, L.L.C.; and Jeremy Peters, 826 Michigan
4:30 - 5:00 PM RECEPTION
5:00 PM Annual Meeting for the HRWC Board of Directors
— 15-minute transition to concurrent sessions —
SOCIAL MEDIA. Share the conference through social
media!Tweet and re-tweet about your favorite session or
post photos and thoughts to HRWC’s Facebook page.
@hrwc, hashtag: #sohc2014
Facebook.com/huronriver
PHOTO RELEASE. Photos and videos will be taken during the
conference and may be used for future marketing purposes. If you
would prefer not to be included please contact Pam Labadie,HRWC
Marketing Director at plabadie@hrwc.org or (734)769-5123 x 602.
SPEAKER BIOS are currently at www.hrwc.org/sohc2014.
PRESENTATIONS will also be available at the conference website
after today’s event.

6. About the Huron RiverWatershed Council
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) coordinates programs and volunteer efforts that include
pollution prevention, hands-on river monitoring, wetland and floodplain protection, public outreach and
education, and natural resources planning. Individuals, local businesses, and more than 40 communities
support its work through voluntary membership.
Founded in 1965, HRWC is southeast Michigan’s oldest environmental organization dedicated to river
protection. Its mission is to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and economies to protect, rehabilitate, and sustain
the Huron River system.
ENJOY. PROTECT. JOIN.
It’s Your River!
It all begins with clean water.That’s why rivers matter to a community.
HRWC invites you to enjoy the beauty and the bounty of the Huron
River, because it is your river. It starts at the headwaters in Oakland
County at Indian Springs Metropark’s Huron Swamp. Flowing 124
miles in a complex system of lakes and wetlands, the main branch
travels through Milford, Dexter, Ann Arbor,Ypsilanti, and Flat Rock to
its final destination, Lake Erie at Point Mouillee.Along its course, 24
major tributaries feed the main stem.
You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the meandering river in the
Scenic River section that starts at Kent Lake Dam in Kensington
Metropark and continues downstream to the Scio-Ann Arbor
Township line. In 1977, HRWC and several citizen groups secured the
“Scenic River” designation for this part of the Huron from Michigan’s
Natural Rivers Program. As a friend of ours always says,“Why drive
200 miles up north to find a beautiful river, when there’s one right
here in Southeast Michigan.”
Smallmouth bass thrive in the main branch of the Huron and common mammals include raccoon, mink, muskrat, beaver, and
deer. Bird species include the great blue heron, a variety of wild ducks, and numerous songbirds as well as migrating bald eagles,
peregrine falcons, Canada geese, ospreys, warblers, and sandhill cranes.
The river is a favorite venue for contemplation or camaraderie among friends, family and recreation lovers with over 35 public
parks along its banks.There are long designated streamside walks in the shade with soothing murmurs and far off scenery
diversified with hills and woods.There are beautiful quiet water paddles on 104 miles of the water trail, swimming, paddle
boarding, fishing and birding adventures.
Whether splashing with your kids in a local creek or filling your glass with water at your kitchen sink, it all begins with clean
water. HRWC will continue to pioneer new ways to safeguard our clean water for our communities today and for future
generations.Visit our website to find a variety of river maps, information on protecting the river, and recreation adventures
on the beautiful Huron River.
Jump in.The water is fine, so go ahead and enjoy your river!
Photo: G. Hieber

7. NOTES

8. The 2014 STATE OF THE HURON CONFERENCE
was made possible by the following sponsors, committed
to clean water and the Huron River Watershed Council.
1100 North Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734.769.5123
www.hrwc.org