2026 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium: Full Schedule

The Great Lakes enjoy extraordinary support from the public and decision makers – they are the uniting force in the region. This presentation will begin by assessing how this support has been leveraged strategically to create and maintain the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Then the presentation will share the results of a recent analysis showing how the decline in federal Great Lakes funding and support has impacted research, data, workforces and other outcomes. Finally, the presentation will outline the preliminary results of the Great Lakes Horizon Scan, which is structured approach to identifying key long-term issues for which a proactive, strategic approach can bend the curve toward sustainable, resilient outcomes even in the midst of chaotic times.

Speakers

Dr. Mike Shriberg

University of Michigan

Monday October 26, 2026 1:20pm - 2:10pm EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

2:10pm EDT

Announcements

Monday October 26, 2026 2:10pm - 2:15pm EDT

Banquet Hall

Speakers

Liz Berg

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Monday October 26, 2026 2:10pm - 2:15pm EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

8:30am EDT

Opening Remarks

Tuesday October 27, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am EDT

Banquet Hall

Speakers

Janice Kerns

Tuesday October 27, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

8:45am EDT

Keynote: H2Ohio - Partnerships and Measuring Success

Tuesday October 27, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am EDT

Banquet Hall

Panel discussion exploring the progress, implementation, and prospects of wetland restoration within the statewide H2Ohio Initiative, highlighting the importance of partnerships and scientific research in achieving success.

Speakers

Alexis McCarter

Natural Infrastructure Director, The Nature Conservancy

Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello

Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Kent State University

Carol Kauffman

Chief Executive Officer, Ohio Environmental Council

Mary Mertz

Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Breann Hohman

Director, Erie Conservation District

Tuesday October 27, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

9:00am EDT

Mindful Moment

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:00am - 9:05am EDT

Banquet Hall

Speakers

Christine DeLoria

Tree Spirited Coaching LLC

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:00am - 9:05am EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

9:05am EDT

Opening Remarks

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:05am - 9:10am EDT

Banquet Hall

Speakers

Cherie Hagen

GLCA Co-chair, Wisconsin DNR

As the Lake Superior Unit Manager with Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources Office of Great Waters, Cherie Hagen collaborates with partners from federal, provincial, tribal, state and local governments, universities, and nongovernmental organizations to identify shared goals and actions to protect and restore the Lake Superior ecosystem and communities. She’s oversees implementation... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:05am - 9:10am EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

9:10am EDT

Keynote: Connect the Dots, Catalyze the Culture: Lessons from Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:10am - 9:55am EDT

Banquet Hall

Along the shores of our great Lake Erie or the banks of the crooked Cuyahoga River, you are bound to hear stories of how Cleveland’s waterways have powered industry, supported generations of workers, and sparked one of the nation’s most influential environmental movements. But not all of these stories are past tense. Today, these waterways are driving the region’s next chapter of environmental progress and economic growth. Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute has been at the center of those conversations over the past two years—convening diverse partners, collaborating on shared priorities, and catalyzing a culture of freshwater stewardship. During this presentation, we will highlight some of the most important lessons we’ve learned in building inclusive, cross-sector partnerships to achieve meaningful and measurable impact. As we explore these experiences together, we’ll reflect on both the simplicity and the complexity of connecting the dots that shape our shared freshwater future.

Speakers

Emily Bacha

Program Director, Fresh Water Institute

Emily Bacha is the Director of the Fresh Water Institute, a Cuyahoga County initiative that convenes regional water leaders to advance freshwater stewardship through collaborative education, economic development, and advocacy efforts. Previously, she led strategic communications and... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:10am - 9:55am EDT
Banquet Hall

General Session

1:00pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

1:20pm EDT

2:10pm EDT

8:30am EDT

8:45am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:05am EDT

9:10am EDT

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