Lydia has a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science from Siena Heights University. She works on everything from representing RRWC at conferences and meetings, to creating information content, and event planning. Outside of RRWC, Lydia is a small business co-owner of a local zero-waste store. She also helps her partner on his family farm to provide fresh produce and meat to our local community.

TSN Conference 2026

January 22nd, 2026 (Thursday) // 11:35 am – 12:00 pm // Room 106 // Reimagining Our Dam Story: Removal of the Brooklyn Dam in the River Raisin Watershed // Man-made dams have been a part of Michigan for hundreds of years. They have left a heavy impression on our collective psyche; offering a mill pond to skate on in the winter, or a favorite fishing spot in the outlet downstream. Unfortunately, dam failure can have catastrophic consequences. Dams also fragment the ecology of a healthy river. The Brooklyn Dam was constructed on the River Raisin in 1939 to provide hydroelectric power for the Ford Motor Company factory. The River Raisin Watershed Council has been working in partnership with countless organizations to remove the dam, restore surrounding wetlands, relocate native fauna, and above all else monitor and maintain the health of the river. We aim to provide updates on this project including the progress that has been made and lessons learned. Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys show hope of a recovering ecosystem. Above all else it is the human element that gives us hope and allows us to reimagine our riverine landscapes.