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WELCOME TO THE 7TH ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP MEETING!

We will get started in a few minutes!

Please let us know where you’re joining us from in the Chat and if this is your first time joining us or if this is your second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth, or seventh Partnership annual meeting! :)

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WELCOME TO THE 6TH ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP MEETING!

December 6, 2023

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Zoom Meeting Tips

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MVPP CO-CHAIRS & MEETING FACILITATORS

Yu Man Lee, Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI)
Amy Lounds, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)
Garret Johnson and Abby Pointer, Michigan Nature Association

Additional Meeting Facilitators/Technical Assistance

Courtney Ross and Nicolette Sexton, MNFI

Good afternoon and welcome, everyone! My name is Yu Man Lee, and I am one of the co-chairs of the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership. I am a Conservation Scientist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, and have been working on vernal pool research, monitoring, and education and outreach since 2011. It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since we initiated efforts to get a better understanding about vernal pools in Michigan and what we need to do to better conserve them. We still have more to do but we have made a lot of progress, esp. in terms of raising awareness and interest in vernal pools, as you can see from today’s meeting, and all of you have helped make that happen! We are so excited about being able to share the wonderful accomplishments and progress we were able to make together this past year for vernal pool conservation and we have some awesome guest speakers today so thank you again for joining us! I also would like to give a special shout out to Julie Stoneman and Courtney Ross for all their hard work organizing this meeting!

Meeting Evaluation Survey Link - https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eb9WVHQT6pZ355Q

MVPP/VPP Sign Up Survey Link - https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25zknSR09Q7CQdw

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Vernal Pools/MVPP Background

Small, shallow, seasonally flooded, fishless wetlands in forests
Important habitats for wildlife, esp. invertebrates and amphibians, and critical for healthy ecosystems
Limited information and protection in MI
Started VP mapping with EPA-EGLE-MNFI project in 2011-2014
Need to continue work on VPs
Launched the MVPP in 2015/2016

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A bit of some background on the partnership. Started in 2015/2016.

The group was formed in 2015 by partners at the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (Yu Man!), the Michigan Nature Association, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

These partners gathered stakeholders across the state to create an initial advisory board to discuss the issue of vernal pool conservation in the state of Michigan and ways that we can work together to better protect them.

The advisory board identified four main challenges-- lack of comprehensive maps, lack of awareness and understanding, lack of government regulations, and lack of stakeholder coordination which we translated into four main goals that you see here today.

And from these initial meetings, it was decided that the group would form a collaborative partnership to address the challenges in vernal pool conservation.

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So what does partnership with the MVPP look like?

Partners (or as it says here, general members) contribute in a way that makes sense for them and is reciprocal.

We have a steering committee of 13 organizations and the four goals I mentioned earlier serve as a subcommittee structure for the partnership. Each subcommittee completes work based off a strategic plan and meets 3-4 times a year or as needed. Subcommittees are a touchpoint for partners to discuss the work their organization is doing on vernal pools, they are a way to discuss ideas and address challenges as they come up, and they are a way to share resources, expertise, and data.

While some partners serve on our subcommittees, others hold events or training that we help promote and support, or participate in vernal pool monitoring. It looks a lot of different ways depending on the situation.

By pooling our resources, expertise, and time the idea is that we can reach more people and better to address the challenges facing vernal pools.

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THANK YOU!!!

Federal (4) & Tribal Government (4)
State Government (3)
Local Government (9)
Parks (5)
Land Conservancies (14)
Zoos, Aquariums, Nature Centers (5)
Conservation Districts (3)
Non-profits/Conservation Groups (12)
Watershed Councils (5)

Universities/Colleges (18)
K-12 Schools/Educators (8)
Environmental Consultants (13)
Private Industry (1)
Vernal Pool Patrol Citizen Scientists & Coordinators
Vernal Pool Enthusiasts
Other States, Provinces, and Countries (22!)

Record Turnout – 450 Registered Participants

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MVPP Annual Meeting 2023 Registrants

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PARTNERSHIP MEETING GOALS

Learn the latest information
Share experiences, successes & lessons learned
Inspire and facilitate collaboration
Recognize our efforts and progress – thank you!!

We are making a difference!

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PARTNERSHIP MEETING AGENDA

MVPP 2023 Highlights
Partner Roundtable
Speakers – Kate Kirkpatrick, David Mifsud, Mike Battaglia, Dr. Kris Hoffman, Brandon Schroeder, Travis Kurtz, and Tony Henehan
Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol Update – Courtney Ross & Nicolette Sexton & Vernal Pool Patrol Volunteer – Autumn Baker, Coordinator – Jenavieve McMurray
Vernal Pool Q & A

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2023 MVPP HIGHLIGHTS

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CONSERVATION

Enhancing Vernal Pool Protection at the Local Level

Providing resources on local protection of vernal pools on the MVPP website.

Kate Kirkpatrick’s presentation today
Recording of a training on Options for Local Government Protection of Wetlands, Inland Lakes and Streams presented by EGLE, TSN, and other partners in 2022, included the importance of vernal pools and recommended tools for their protection.

Working with Watershed Councils and other local partners to promote local government protection of vernal pools.

Huron River Watershed Council

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CONSERVATION

Enhancing Vernal Pool Protection at the State Level

Updated “Amphibian and Reptile Best Management Practices” and new “Herp Habitat Assessment Tool” developed by Herpetological Resource and Management (HRM) in partnership with EGLE and The Stewardship Network with funding from U.S. EPA.

David Mifsud’s presentation today

Working with MDNR and EGLE to share VP data and integrate into management planning and project review processes.
MNA worked with a MSU Glassen Scholar (Makalya Parks, MSU Student in Environmental Studies) to build a library and draft a white paper on existing VP policies and policy recommendations. Also interviewed non-industrial forest owners about attitudes and perceptions about VPs to develop materials.

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RESEARCH AND MAPPING

Mapping vernal pools using radar and lidar

Michigan Tech Research Institute - 5-year project to map and classify vernal pools in 5 national parks in MI, WI, and MN.
Mike Battaglia presentation

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH / RESEARCH & MAPPING

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH / RESEARCH & MAPPING

Virtual Training 2023

Over 300 registrants, including out of state
Part 1 - 230 participants; Part 2 - 180 participants
Review feedback and data quality, will continue

Local field trainings

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH

"The Pool Report"

Quarterly e-newsletter
Produced by Michigan Nature Association (MNA)
1,251 subscribers!
Check it out at https://www.mivernalpools.com/menus/vernal-pool-report.html

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Social Media

Facebook – 2,182 followers

Grew by 33% (544 followers)

Instagram – 1,015 followers

Grew by 288% (754 followers)

Thank you, Abby Pointer, Autumn Baker, and Robin Coon!

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Resources

VP Patrol Rack Card for Educators
Brochure
Poster
Travel Display
Retractable Banner
Request form on MVPP website

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Materials for Landowners On the Way!

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Resources

"Ephemeral" by Fauna Creative & MNA
12K views!!

https://youtu.be/vdJDe3bA7j8

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EDUCATION & OUTREACH

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Thank You!

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PARTNER ROUNDTABLE

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Join the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol!

Become a Vernal Pool Patrol Volunteer, Local Program Coordinator, or Partner! Contribute data!

https://vernal-pool-patrol-mnfi.hub.arcgis.com/

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Join the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA

Website - www.mivernalpools.com
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/MIVernalPools/
Instagram and Twitter

MISSION

Promote awareness and protection of vernal pools through conservation, research and mapping, education and outreach and collaboration and coordination

MVPP PARTNER/COMMITTEES

Get involved!
Contact MNA – Abby Pointer - apointer@michigannature.org or Yu Man Lee – leeyum@msu.edu

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Thank You!

What you can expect in the follow-up email

Resources from today’s meeting, including important links, slides, and contact info.
Link to the recording of the meeting will be sent out in a few weeks.
We’d love your feedback and what you’d like to see next year! Please contribute to the Annual Meeting evaluation survey.
If you’re interested in getting involved, we will send out an interest form.

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Annual Meeting Evaluation