The Laurentian Great Lakes host the largest collection of freshwater islands in the world with approximately 32,000 islands. Many of these islands hold significant ecological, economic, cultural, and historic significance and serve as an ecological refuge under various stressors. Despite the importance of these features, islands are often understudied and overlooked. The Great Lakes Coastal Assembly’s Island Workgroup is developing a series of reference guides, one for each Great Lake, to help direct conservation and restoration actions on Great Lakes islands. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the guide development process and share preliminary results for Lake Erie, including the upstream St. Clair/Detroit River system. Review and input from partners and the general public is welcome. Ultimately, the guide will assist priority-setting by agencies and organizations, support grant applications, and bring attention to the conservation needs of Great Lakes islands.
