LANSING — Elected and appointed officials often need to make important decisions regarding the future of shared water resources. The new online version of the Michigan Water School program from Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension provides decision-makers with critical, relevant information needed to understand Michigan’s water resources in order to support sound water management decisions.

This year, Michigan Water School: Essential Resources for Local Officials will be offered free in a series of Zoom webinars from 3-5 p.m. on four Thursday afternoons (Oct. 8 and 22, Nov. 5 and 19). This project has been generously supported by the Erb Family Foundation and Pure Oakland Water.

The program will include sessions on water quantity; water quality; water finance and planning; and water policy issues. Topics to be covered include:

– The Blue Economy

– Fiscal benefits of water management

– Incorporating water into local planning and placemaking

– Resources to help address water problems

– Water policy at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels

Water School speakers will include educators and faculty from MSU and MSU Extension as well as other experts providing local perspectives.

Register to attend the free, policy-neutral, fact-based program at events.anr.msu.edu/WaterSchoolWebinarSeries2020. Not sure if you will be able to attend the live sessions? Each webinar will be recorded, and all registrants will receive links to the recordings so you can watch them at a more convenient time.