New York State Great Lakes Protection Fund Small Grants 2005

Four projects were funded for up to $10,000 each in the NYGLPF 2005 Small Grants program. The program is administered by the Great Lakes Research Consortium, in cooperation with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Great Lakes Basin Advisory Council, with earnings that accrue from New York State’s investment in the regional Great Lakes Protection Fund. The protection fund (NYGLPF) small grants program was developed to provide “seed” money for new, cooperative approaches to researching and protecting the environmental quality of the Great Lakes.The successful projects were:

Impact of Invasive Plants on Native Great Lakes Freshwater Organisms

Bernd Blossey (Cornell University) with Ed Mills (Cornell University) collaborating. Information about the influence of native and introduced plants on invertebrate communities will allow us to better guage and predict changes in biotic communities or productivity associated with plant invasions. Quantitative data about the impact of individual plants will also allow informed management decisions targeting plant species with the greatest negative impacts. For more information, contact Dr. Blossey -bb22@cornell.edu

Improving the Public Management of Septic Systems in the New York Great Lakes Basin

Sharon Moran (SUNY ESF) with Amy Samuels (Cornell University Cooperative Extension) collaborating. This study will help move septic system management structures and specifically alternative septic technology, from the margins of experimentation to better acceptance in mainstream society. For more information, contact Dr. Moran - smoran@esf.edu

Endocrine-Mediated Effects of Estrogenic Compounds and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Fish Populations from Eastern Lake Erie

Alicia Perez-Fuentetaja (SUNY Fredonia) and collabors from the University at Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Results from this study could be used as a model for assessing the impact of WWTPs and animal husbandry on Great Lakes fish (aquatic) populations and will help determine whether new treatment technologies are needed to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem under the Legacy Act. For more information, contact Dr. Perez-Fuentetaja - fuenteap@fredonia.edu

Improving the Environmental Clean-up Technologies in the Great Lakes Using a Novel Microreactor with Nanostructured Materials

Omowunmi Sadik (Binghamton University) with collaborators from SUNY Old Westbury, Binghamton University, Broome County Department of Health, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Coast Guard at Fort Niagara, New York. This work could offer a new and safe application of nanotechnology for the reduction of high oxidation state heavy metal pollutants and organics of interest to the NYS Great Lakes region. For more information, contact Dr. Sadik - osadik@binghamton.edu