2025 Annual MiCorps Conference

Dec. 5, 2025
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

Online

The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) hosts an annual volunteer monitoring conference each fall. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to stay up to date on monitoring methods and to meet and interact with other volunteer monitors. Participants join stream and lake monitoring volunteers and program coordinators from across Michigan to learn, network, and celebrate our collective achievements!

The 2025 conference is a free, online event hosted via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you after you register. You may come and go as you wish throughout the day.

Agenda:

9 a.m.    Welcome

• Jo Latimore, MiCorps Director, MSU

9:15 a.m.     Volunteer and grantee recognition

• Paul Steen, MiCorps Streams Program Manager, Huron River Watershed Council, and Erick Elgin, MiCorps Lakes Program Manager, MSU Extension

9:30 a.m.    Barry Conservation District’s Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program

• Rachel Franz, Barry Conservation District

10 a.m.  How Michigan agencies use MiCorps stream data

• Tamara Lipsey, EGLE MiCorps Program Lead, and Michigan EGLE Nonpoint Source Program staff

10:45 a.m.  Resources for lake and stream monitoring organizations

• EGLE staff: Tamara Lipsey, Molly Rippke, Ryan Crouch, Kevin Walters, and Chris Vandenberg

11:30 a.m.   Break

Noon  MiCorps 101

• Jo Latimore

1 p.m.    Ensuring the quality of volunteer-collected data

• Paul Steen and Erick Elgin

2 p.m.    Using Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program data to inspire action

• Part 1: Score the Shore
  • Mike Gallagher, CLMP Volunteer – Gull Lake and Michigan Lakes and Streams Association Board Director
• Part 2: Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch
  • Lisa Adams, CLMP Volunteer – Bass Lake and President of the Bass Lakes Area Environmental Partnership
• Part 3: Trophic Status – Secchi, Total Phosphorus, and Chlorophyll-a
  • Erick Elgin and Jo Latimore

3:30 p.m.    Adjourn