The more than 35 million people who live among the Great Lakes overwhelmingly profess devotion to these waters — yet the Lakes are in mediocre condition at best. Why the gap? Dave Dempsey will discuss his findings for his recent book, Lake Nation: People and the Fate of the Great Lakes, in which he seeks answers not in political theory, but in personal narratives. He will also draw upon his career shaping Great Lakes policy.

Dave Dempsey has helped shape conservation and Great Lakes policy for 30 years and is an author and co-author of 12 books. He is currently a policy advisor for FLOW, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting Great Lakes waters using the public trust doctrine. His career has included policy and leadership roles for the International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Michigan Environmental Council, Clean Water Action-Michigan, Michigan Council on Environmental Quality and Michigan Governor Blanchard’s Administration.

In 2009, Dempsey was awarded the annual Michigan Author Award by the Michigan Center for the Book, the Michigan Library Association and Sleeping Bear Press. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in resource development from Michigan State University, and has served as an adjunct instructor in environmental policy at Michigan State University and Western Michigan University.

In support of the Alpena Peace Coalition.