|
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) today announced that Michigan State University has been awarded a federal grant of $164,044 to help finance a study of the human impact on the aquatic ecosystem of the Saginaw Bay. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the grant to fund the creation of a comprehensive model and evaluation of water quality, fish production and economic viability of the Saginaw Bay.
“This project will help to illustrate the big picture and the complexities of the greatest mass of fresh water on the planet,” said Kildee. “We must be sure we have a complete understanding of the Saginaw Bay to preserve its pristine beauty for future generations.”
Michigan State University has proposed a unique Adaptive Integrated Framework to facilitate data collection, modeling approaches and guiding research to develop a hydrological model of the Saginaw Bay and surrounding watershed. The model will be used to identify knowledge gaps and to guide field research that would provide for a more complete understanding of the complex ecosystem.
The Saginaw Bay is impacted by several factors such as invasive species, changing land-use patterns and climate change. The ecosystem of the Saginaw Bay and Great Lakes have endured many foreign invasive species including sea lamprey, zebra mussels and, more recently, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), a virus deadly to fish.
“The Saginaw Bay is one of the great resources we have as residents of mid-Michigan,” said Kildee. “Boating, fishing and sandy beaches are a part of life in our state, and we must protect our waters to preserve that.”
|
