GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute

GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute The Mission of the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) at Grand Valley State University

Congratulations to Luttenton Lab graduate student Logan Clark for successfully defending his M.S. thesis, "In Hot Water:...
06/09/2026

Congratulations to Luttenton Lab graduate student Logan Clark for successfully defending his M.S. thesis, "In Hot Water: Movement of North Branch Au Sable River Brown Trout During Warm Stream Temperatures"! A summary of Logan's research is featured as a spotlight on AWRI's website at gvsu.edu/wri.

Exciting news out of the Muskegon River! Last week, graduate students Elliot Hoinville and John Lawrence, along with sum...
06/08/2026

Exciting news out of the Muskegon River! Last week, graduate students Elliot Hoinville and John Lawrence, along with summer technician Ben Parrish, went out on the to conduct bathymetric surveys for sturgeon on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County. Bathymetry is the measurement of water depth at multiple locations within a waterbody. Survey crews slowly zigzag between riverbanks like a game of ping-pong, taking depth and elevation measurements at many points along the river to get a complete scan. So what does this have to do with lake sturgeon? 🐟

According to Elliot, three factors determine lake sturgeon spawning habitat: water velocity, depth, and substrate. Velocity is how fast the water moves, depth is the distance between the surface to the riverbed, and substrate is the combined organic and inorganic materials that make up the riverbed. Data collected from this survey will be incorporated into a riverbed model and ultimately aid in assessing habitat quality for these ancient fish. Through these surveys, communities can continue to understand our local waterways and the organisms that call them home.

Have you ever seen a lake sturgeon? Are you curious about how we study rivers, or want to know more? Tell us below! 🌊

06/08/2026

Did you know our “inland seas” are just as awe-inspiring as the oceans? 🌊

This , let’s also celebrate the —home to 20% of the world’s surface fresh water and over 94,000 square miles of natural wonder! From supporting vibrant communities to fueling our economy and sustaining unique ecosystems, the Great Lakes are vital to us all. Let’s protect and cherish these incredible resources—today and every day.

Discover more at www.glc.org

06/05/2026

Anaii, Mino-giizhig! Hello, it is a nice day. Welcome to the Ojibwe word of the week, water resources edition. Today’s word is Nibi (pronounced Nih-bih), or water.💧

Miigwech (thank you) for joining us for today’s Ojibwe word of the week!

As part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Initiative, this month, the Laker Raker and operator Jamie Cross participated...
06/04/2026

As part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Initiative, this month, the Laker Raker and operator Jamie Cross participated in the Alliance for the Great Lakes & Meijer’s Adopt-a-Beach cleanup at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Park. The Laker Raker is a beach-cleaning robot that sifts through sand to remove plastic waste and other debris and is a part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, an initiative of the Council of the Great Lakes Region and Pollution Probe in Canada funded through the generous contributions of Meijer. The efforts of The Alliance for the Great Lakes and Meijer continue to demonstrate a commitment to preserving our Great Lakes shoreline and protecting the environment for generations to come. To learn more about beach clean-ups, Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup technology, and how you can get involved, visit: https://www.greatlakesplasticcleanup.org/

06/02/2026

Find out if a beach near you has advisories or closures that affect your swimming plans

AWRI is represented this week at the joint meeting of the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) and...
05/28/2026

AWRI is represented this week at the joint meeting of the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) and the Society of Canadian Aquatic Sciences! If you're in Winnipeg, Manitoba today, be sure to check out Dr. Kevin Strychar's presentation!

Presentations (AWRI authors noted with *):

Image Flow Cytometry Rapidly Assesses Viable vs Non-viable Escherichia coli along Coastal Beaches of Lake Michigan
-Kevin Strychar*
-Thu 5/28, 5:00-6:00 PM, Room 4-S

Congratulations to Otter Lab graduate student Josie Kuhlman for successfully defending her M.S. thesis, "E. coli Concent...
05/22/2026

Congratulations to Otter Lab graduate student Josie Kuhlman for successfully defending her M.S. thesis, "E. coli Concentrations in Sand and Water at Tributary-Influenced Lake Michigan Beaches"! A summary of Josie's research is featured as a spotlight on AWRI's website at gvsu.edu/wri.

The Maycember conference season continues with the annual meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science! If you're in Sp...
05/18/2026

The Maycember conference season continues with the annual meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science! If you're in Spokane, WA for this week, check out these talks from Dr. Al Steinman and Logan Clark!

Presentations (AWRI authors noted with *):

Salinization of lakes in west Michigan: how problematic is it?
-Alan Steinman*, Sean Woznicki*, Michael Hassett*, Katie Tyrrell*
-Wed 5/20, 10:30-12:00, Room 207, Session Landuse & Non-Point Source Impacts 1.0

Use of Thermal Refugia by Brown Trout on the North Branch Au Sable River, Michigan
-Logan D. Clark*, M. Woller-Skar, Mark R. Luttenton*
-Thu 5/21, 10:30-12:00, Room 206A, Session: Fish & Other Vertebrates 1.0

Warmer days are back here in Muskegon, and AWRI is launching into summer projects! With help from our summer science com...
05/15/2026

Warmer days are back here in Muskegon, and AWRI is launching into summer projects! With help from our summer science communication intern, we'll take a weekly dive into the research underway around West Michigan. Stay tuned for captivating stories, stunning photos, and answers to the questions you've always wanted to ask. From monitoring Muskegon Lake's water quality to investigating Hemlock Woody Alegids, we'll plunge into the details of each research project and share our discoveries with you!

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740 W Shoreline Drive
Muskegon, MI
49441

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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