This document announces a meeting to bring together staff and stakeholders working on Wisconsin's Areas of Concern to strengthen communication and coordinate restoration strategies. The two-day meeting in Green Bay will include updates on each Area of Concern, discussions on delisting strategies and Remedial Action Plans, and breakout sessions on topics like sediment remediation and outreach. Attendees will include representatives from the Wisconsin DNR, EPA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, universities, consultant groups, and citizen advisory committees seeking to advance restoration of the Great Lakes.

1. Explore and Restore – Transferring and Transforming our SuccessesWisconsin’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern MeetingNovember 3-4, 2011Green Bay, Wisconsin

2. Audience = estimate about 60 attendeesAgency staff and citizen/stakeholders working on Wisconsin’s Areas of Concern Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources AOC project coordinators

3. WDNR Office of Great Lakes staff

4. WDNR biologists, water resource staff and other working in AOCs

5. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (John Perrecone, Liz LaPlante, Judy Beck)

6. US Fish & Wildlife biologists, coordinators (Pat Collins, others)

7. University of Wisconsin Extension natural resource educators

8. Citizen advisory committee members

9. Technical advisory committee members

10. Consultant/contractors working in AOCs

11. Great Lakes Commission staff working in AOCs (Matt Doss, Heather Braun)

12. Invited guests from other AOCs (Michigan, New York, Ontario)For example, from Sheboygan River AOC this might include: Stacy Hron, Vic Pappas and Debbie Beyers Paula Bizot, NOAA (NRD assessment) Patrick Forsythe, UW-GB (fisheries biologist, was with USFWS) Betsy Galbraith, USFWS (NRD assessment) Jon Gumtow, private consultant, SRBP board member, Pete Pittner, private consultant, SRBP board member

13. Goals1. Strengthen Communication Network to provide a forum for Wisconsin Areas of Concern staff and citizen/technical committee members to meet and share project information, exchange ideas and discuss issues of common interest. 2. Coordinate strategies, plans, evaluations to provide a face-to-face opportunity to discuss and coordinate delisting strategies, Remedial Action Plans and ways of measuring success as a state and in collaboration with EPA’s guidelines.

14. DRAFT Meeting at a glanceThursday, Nov 3 Heritage Hill State Historical Park10:30am - dinnerUpdates from Wisconsin’s Areas of ConcernDiscussion on RAP 2, Delisting StrategiesDisplays of outreach materials/project postersWalking tour of Heritage HillDinner on-siteLodging at Tundra LodgeFriday, Nov 4 Tundra Lodge Resort & Conference Center8:30am-2:30pmDiscussion of Statewide Public Advisory CouncilBreakout sessions: sediment, outreach, CACs, etc.Field trip to Green Bay Contaminated Sediment Facility

15. Please join us!November 3-4, 2011Green Bay, Wisconsin