STATE OF THE BAY CONFERENCE 2026
TAKING PLACE
Ocrober 7, 2026
Doubletree Hotel and
Conference Center
1 Wenona Park Place
Bay City, MI 48708
The premier event showcasing Saginaw Bay, its tributaries and the people and organizations that are working to protect, restore and conserve it.
Every two years, the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) and its partners provide a focus on Saginaw Bay and its Watershed through the State of the Bay conference. The purpose of the conference is to highlight educational initiatives, restoration, community development and conservation activities occurring across the watershed and related to our river systems and coastal areas, as well as provide an update on research and emerging topics of interest. Hear from researchers, educators, nonprofits, and more on three tracks of focus: Environmental Education, Community Development, and Watershed Issues and Management.
KEYNOTE
Dr. Lynne Heasley is an environmental historian in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University and author of the 2021 book, The Accidental Reef and Other Ecological Odysseys in the Great Lakes. Dr. Heasley serves on the advisory boards of the University Center for the Humanities and the Native American Affairs Council at WMU, as well the boards for the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, and the Forest History Society. She has done research in West Africa and the Kickapoo Valley of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, but today her work focuses on the “more-than-human worlds of the Great Lakes.” She writes on her website: “Making sense of complex ecocultural relationships, and care for community well-being, are both deep concerns in my research and writing. These include land and water tenure; conditions of injustice and justice; different kinds of knowledges, perspectives, sense of place; and especially our troubled relationships with land, water, and the other beings we share these with.” Heasley is also an avid photographer, and some of her work is featured around the Library of the Great Lakes website! Learn more about Lynn Heasley and her work at: lynneheasley.com
LUNCH DISCUSSION
Dr. Dani Jones is an Associate Research Scientist (Research Faculty) at the University of Michigan, working as part of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR). Jones has a background in physical oceanography, specializing in adjoint ocean modeling and unsupervised classification. Currently, Jones is establishing the Great Lakes Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at CIGLR. This new initiative builds on a foundation of data science
research and domain expertise. This research plays a role in helping communities in the Great Lakes region adapt to the dynamic, changing nature of the lakes. The Great Lakes are not only a crucial freshwater source but also an economic hub, making accurate environmental predictions essential. By improving water-level forecasting, we provide better water-level predictions, helping protect communities, infrastructure, agriculture and industry. The Great Lakes AI Lab aims to leverage the research community’s robust observing assets, extensive datasets, modeling capacity, interdisciplinary expertise, and numerous regional partnerships to enhance our understanding and management of this invaluable natural resource. By utilizing advanced AI techniques, the lab ultimately seeks to improve decision-making processes for the management of the Great Lakes.
SPONSORS
Underwriters
Platinum Level
Reception Sponsor
Gold Level
Silver Level
Clear Current Consulting
CONTACT US
For other questions and comments, email info@saginawbaywin.org
or
The Conservation Fund
Great Lakes Office
P.O. Box 734
Bay City, MI 48707
989-892-9171
© 2026 by The Conservation Fund / Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network
Cover Photo Courtesy BaySail - Appledore Tall Ships, Bay City