The Whitefish Lake Institute is hosting the inaugural Montana Lakes Conference on March 13-15 here.

The conference will gather diverse resource professionals to exchange information, scientific advancements, and management strategies that promote clean and healthy lake and reservoir ecosystems. Participants from academic, nonprofit, government, business organizations, and the public will gather to learn about improving the health of Montana’s lakes through science and monitoring advances, watershed restoration practices, policy innovation and collaborative stakeholder involvement.

The conference will be held at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and will feature 30 talks in two concurrent sessions offering knowledge in areas such as research and management, lake associations and citizen science, watershed protection, aquatic invasive species, fisheries management, education and outreach, floodplain management and contaminants, and policy and commissions.

The conference workshop — “Lake Ecology 101: How biology, chemistry and physics interact to shape how lakes function” — will be taught by Shawn Devlin of the Flathead Lake Biological Station from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, and is free and open to the public.

Conference attendees will have a rare opportunity to hear global climate strategist, Edward Cameron during his conference keynote — “A just and sustainable world: Building low-carbon, climate resilient and inclusive economies.”

There will be three additional keynotes during the conference. Geoffrey Schladow, Director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, will present the meaning of lake restoration in the face of climate change: The case of Lake Tahoe. Jim Elser, Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station, will present the state of (some) Montana lakes. Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park Superintendent, will talk on the challenges and opportunities facing Glacier Park during uncertain times.

On Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center a free community presentation entitled “A glimpse of fading glaciers: Impacts on life in mountain regions,” will be jointly presented by Erich Peitzsch, physical scientist from the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and Dr. Jim Elser, Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station. WLI will also be presenting its annual Stewardship Award and the Chris Ruffatto Excellence in Education Award at the conference banquet on the evening of March 14.

For more information, visit www.whitefishlake.org, 406.862.4327