In This Issue Mission Should Address and the Strengths It Should Build Upon As It Develops a New Strategic Plan

Advisor September/October 2004 Volume 17, No.5

2004 Annual Meeting focuses on advocacy, strategic planning Region urged to speak as one for the Great Lakes A single voice for the Great Lakes region. That is the primary goal the Great Lakes Commission should set for itself and strive to provide, in the opinion of newly elected Chair Tom Huntley and his Commission colleagues at the agency’s 2004 Annual Meeting. The Oct. 5 meeting in Toronto, with the theme “Celebrating Success, Preparing for the Future!” provided member delegations and partner organizations with the oppor- tunity to share their views on key priorities the Com- In This Issue mission should address and the strengths it should build upon as it develops a new strategic plan. Features Among the key roles for the Commission, according RDX Conference points way to better to its members, are developing tools for decision sup- information systems port and data management; convening multiple interests to address regional issues; research coordination Resource managers get watershed sedi- and development; specific issues such as invasive spe- ment modeling tools cies and water resource management; and advocacy. First Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup begins It was the last of these that Huntley addressed during a strategy session while speaking as head of the Min- ANS Update – The Live Food Fish Industry nesota delegation, prior to his election as chair at the end of the meeting (see story, p. 7). News & Views ...... 2 President/CEO Mike Donahue “Our entire delegation agrees, the most important Tom Huntley thing for the Great Lakes Commission is to speak for Commission Briefs ...... 3 all the Great Lakes with one voice,” he said, noting that the region has a long list of public agencies and nongovernmental organizations that speak to Great Lakes issues. Point: counterpoint ...... 8 “The question is, how do we combine all that to speak with one voice? It’s a very difficult thing to do, but it’s tremendously important.” Around the Lakes ...... 10 So many voices make it difficult to send a clear message to Congress, Huntley said, where members are inundated with information and have asked that the region speak Calendar ...... 11 as one. He noted that this presents a challenge for the Commission in carrying out its legislatively mandated communications, coordination and advocacy role. The Last Word ...... 12 Outgoing chair Sam Speck expressed a similar view, saying that while the Commis- Commission Chair Tom Huntley sion should always strive to seek consensus among the range of regional interests, there The Advisor is published bimonthly by will be issues that not everyone agrees on. the Great Lakes Commission. The Great “Even on issues where there is disagreement, the Great Lakes Commission should Lakes Commission is a binational agency take a stance and advocate that stance,” he said, adding that absence of such a voice established in 1955 to promote the orderly, integrated and comprehensive hurts the region. development, use and conservation of the One step in that direction was an action taken at the meeting to harmonize the Com- water and related natural resources of the mission’s ecosystem protection and restoration priorities with those of the region’s gov- Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River. continued on page 6 Commission News & Views From the desk of the president/CEO...

Great Lakes Commission Get the Picture? The Great Lakes Commission is a binational public agency dedicated to the use, Isn’t it interesting how a number of people do exist; 2) better integrate data and infor- management and protection of the water, can look at the same picture, and each will mation acquisition and analysis – including land and other natural resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system. In partnership with see a very different image? This is fine if monitoring – into management programs; the eight Great Lakes states and provinces we’re talking about abstract art but can be and 3) continue the call for an adequate of Ontario and Québec, the Commission applies sustainable development principles in a problem for Great Lakes governance. A research infrastructure to support manage- addressing issues of resource management, case in point is the data and information ment decisions. environmental protection, transportation and sustainable development. The Commission upon which we ostensibly rely to under- The Great Lakes Commission and its provides accurate and objective information stand and influence ecological, economic many partners have embraced this chal- on public policy issues; an effective forum for developing and coordinating public policy; and social processes. lenge with a series of and a unified, systemwide voice to advocate Ask an elected official, “The reality is that we will initiatives that bode member interests. a resource manager and never have all the data well for the future. Board of Directors Thomas E. Huntley (MN), Chair a scientist about the and information we ideally Our recent Regional John R. Goss (IN) Vice Chair “state of the art” in need to make the decisions Data Exchange (RDX) Samuel W. Speck (OH), Immediate Past Chair decision support and Conference yielded Pat Quinn (IL) that have to be made.” Ken DeBeaussaert (MI) each is likely to sound recommendations to Erin M. Crotty (NY) certain themes. Elected officials often enhance data consistency and accessibility William J. Carr (ON) Cathleen Curran Meyers (PA) admit that they are overwhelmed with across basin jurisdictions. New dimen- Michel Lafleur (QC) data and information, awash with so many sions are being added to the Great Lakes Todd Ambs (WI) facts and figures from so many sources Information Network to enhance its role as President/Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Donahue, Ph.D. (frequently unsolicited) that they cannot a regional data clearinghouse and coordina- Advisor Editor possibly process it all. Resource managers tion mechanism. A just-completed business Kirk Haverkamp typically decry problems of data relevance, plan for the Great Lakes Observing System Program Managers consistency and accessibility when deci- promises to enhance data and information Thomas Crane, Resource Management sions need to be made. Meanwhile, those generation and direct it at policy priori- Matt Doss, Environmental Quality Roger Gauthier, Data and Information in the research community tend to think ties. Decision support systems designed to Management that the quantity and quality of data needed access, integrate and direct data and infor- Jon MacDonagh-Dumler, Regional Coordination to come to definitive conclusions are mation to topics such as water manage- Christine Manninen, Communications and seldom available. ment, spill response, sustainable land use Internet Technology Steve Thorp, Transportation and Sustainable In his seminal article, “Problems of and aquatic invasive species prevention and Development Organization in the the Science, Politics control are being designed and refined. Project Managers and Management of Water,” Rich Thomas And, of course, the Commission remains Stuart Eddy, Katherine Glassner-Shwayder, Dave Knight, Ric Lawson, Gary Overmier, Victoria speaks to these differing perspectives. In a staunch advocate for the region’s research Pebbles, Kevin Yam so many words, he tells us that the primary institutions and associated monitoring and Program Specialists difference between success and failure in surveillance needs. Laura Blackburn, Hugh Brennan, Jon Dettling, resource management is data and informa- Rich Thomas maintains that, absent a Shannon Glutting, Kirk Haverkamp, John Hummer, Elizabeth Johnson, Laura Kaminski, tion, and how we use them. strong research base, management institu- Becky Lameka, Jennifer Read, Michael The reality is that we will never have all tions inevitably evolve toward a state of Schneider, Anne Sturm, Hao Zhuang the data and information we ideally need to “senility” in which there is “a slowing of the Director of Research, Emeritus Albert G. Ballert, Ph.D. make the decisions that have to be made. generation of new data” and the “repetitious Administrative Staff It always has, and always will, come down regurgitation of old ideas, concepts and Pat Gable, Ron Hasselbring, Marilyn Ratliff, to a matter of exercising best professional data sets.” That, I suspect, is a picture that Rita Straith judgment based upon best available infor- no legislator, resource manager or scientist Research Associates/Fellows Suzan Campbell, Ted Lawrence, Devra Polack mation. This is, indeed, the essence of would like to see. policymaking. The challenge then, opens Cover illustration: Lake Superior shore, up on three fronts: we need to 1) make courtesy of Travel Michigan. better use of the data and information that Michael J. Donahue, Ph.D.

2 Advisor • September/October 2004 www.glc.org Commission Briefs RDX Conference points way to better information systems

Access to diverse data holdings and informa- and consumptive uses in the Great Lakes region, tion systems are key to effective resource man- both inside and outside the basin, is an obvious agement, as are interoperable computer models example of public policy crying out for more and and decision sup- better data, modeling and information accessible port mechanisms. to all stakeholders.” C o o r d i n a t i n g The goal of the RDX Conference was to pro- these tools is a mote dialogue toward establishing a decision daunting task support system to help guide the region’s sus- that the Great tainable development. A reliable Lakes Commis- data support mechanism for the sion has embraced Great Lakes would help direct in response to a public dialogue toward a useful policy directive debate over policy, rather than from its member- focusing on matters of fact which ship. To address should be resolved by integrated, this challenge, reliable and easily accessible data Keynote speaker G. Tracy the Commission Mehan, former U.S. EPA and information. assembled more assistant administrator for “Ensuring consistency in data water and onetime director than 150 Great of Michigan’s Office of the standards, acquisition, manage- Lakes informa- Great Lakes. ment and analysis across all tion managers in political boundaries is essential Detroit, Mich., Oct. 26-28 for the Great Lakes to achieving a shared vision Regional Data Exchange (RDX) Conference. for our natural and economic “Information systems are a vital, strategic com- resources,” said Dennis Schor- Christine Manninen, manager of the Commission’s ponent of environmental management, yet often nack, U.S. chair of the Interna- Communications and Internet Technology overlooked, underappreciated and underfunded tional Joint Commission (IJC). Program, describes potential innovations for the by policymakers at all levels of government,” said “Such a system should be cost- Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN). G. Tracy Mehan, former U.S. Environmental effective; enable proactive, pre- Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) assistant adminis- ventive action to protect and enhance the region’s trator for water, in his opening keynote address. natural and economic resources; and provide “The current policy dialogue on water diversions continued on page 5

New projects boost regional data access and exchange New information technologies are revolutioniz- portals and the establishment of a substantial ing the ability to produce, manage and use data. infrastructure to support them via distributed As research and data collection play increasingly servers and database systems. Current projects important roles in resource management and include the development of Internet data portals protection in the Great Lakes region, it is crucial for information on toxic air emissions in the that researchers and policymakers are able to Great Lakes region; water flows and related data access, share and exchange data. for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River; The Great Lakes Commission is building and a broad range of other Great Lakes data. its capacity to offer improved data access to The first of these is the newly completed “Cen- researchers and policymakers investigating key tralized Air Emissions Repository On-Line” issues in the Great Lakes region. This capacity (CAROL) web portal (http://mds.glc.org/ is reflected in the development of Internet data continued on page 4 www.glc.org September/October 2004 • Advisor 3 Commission Briefs Partnership to advance ANS prevention and control

Intergovernmental coordination and coopera- six months to review plan status, celebrate suc- tion is a hallmark of successful aquatic nuisance cesses, identify unmet needs, and strategize Great Lakes Day in species (ANS) management efforts, and state on actions that can be taken to enhance ANS Washington agencies have a particularly critical role in prevention and control efforts. A model state mark your calendar March 2, 2005 translating laws, policies and plans into viable management plan, developed by the Commis- Washington, D.C. prevention and control strategies. At the same sion and the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nui- time, they must harmonize their efforts with sance Species in the mid-1990s will be used as IAGLR Annual neighboring jurisdictions to ensure a cohesive a benchmark to guide the review. That model, Conference on Great regional approach. Add to this the complexity which was used as a template by most states for Lakes Research of the issue and funding limitations, and it is their own plans, emphasized a coordinated, May 23-27, 2005 clear that Great Lakes states have no shortage basinwide approach. Ann Arbor, Mich. of challenges – and opportunities – in advancing Great Lakes Commission staff will work with prevention and control initiatives. Sea Grant and state agency officials in design- 2005 Great Lakes Conference and IJC To assist its member states in addressing these ing the workshops to ensure state-specific Biennial Meeting on challenges, and embracing the opportunities, relevance. A regional summit will be conducted Water Quality the Great Lakes Commission is partnering with at the end of the process to share success and June 9-11, 2005 the region’s Sea Grant programs to help advance unmet needs, and identify areas for collective Kingston, Ontario the continued development and implementation state action. of state management plans called for under fed- For more information, contact: Kathe Glass- eral ANS legislation. Toward that end, a series ner-Shwayder, [email protected]. of workshops is being conducted over the next

Data management and exchange tools (continued from page 3) carol/), designed to better communicate the of otherwise unconnected data elsewhere on results of the Commission’s Great Lakes Air the Internet, using a range of geospatial map- Toxic Emissions Inventory. This inventory, ping technologies. compiled from information submitted by the The Commission is also applying these tech- eight Great Lakes states and Ontario, provides nologies to two other projects now being devel- detailed information on 213 air toxic compounds oped. A data portal being developed for the in the Great Lakes basin. The CAROL portal International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Lake enables a wide range of users to obtain data at Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board will an appropriate level and in an appropriate form provide access to data on water levels and flows to meet their needs, including tables, charts or in those systems. This will assist the board in interactive web-based Geographic Information making recommendations to the IJC on water System (GIS) mapping capabilities. levels and flows that will address environmental, Using GIS technologies to present the infor- economic and social considerations. mation enables CAROL to present data in The second is the Great Lakes Data Direc- interactive, intuitive formats that encourage tory, a metadata search engine that will enable visual interpretation and exploration. It also users to find sources of geospatial data on the provides the ability to offer the inventory hold- Great Lakes. As with the other applications, ings to all Internet users via Open Geospatial users will be able to import a wide range of Consortium (OGC) standards such as Web geospatial data from the web portal onto to Map Services (WMS) and Web Feature Ser- their own desktop applications and to other vices (WFS). This enables data to be presented web-mapping applications. in a manner that allows browsing and querying Contact: Kevin Yam, [email protected].

4 Advisor • September/October 2004 www.glc.org Commission Briefs Resource managers learn to use erosion and sedimentation models

The Great Lakes Commission=s contribution to quantify the impact of land management prac- to science-based watershed management contin- tices at a river basin scale. Great Lakes Regional ues, with a successful conclusion to a Pennsylva- Commission staff subsequently convened an ini- Collaboration to nia initiative and a new-start effort in Michigan. tial stakeholders workshop to begin development convene Dec. 3 A workshop in mid-September marked the of a modeling effort for Michigan=s Sebewaing A collaboration to culmination of sedimentation and erosion mod- River. Actual modeling work will begin in 2005 restore and protect the Great Lakes eling efforts for the Mill and Cascade creeks or 2006, depending on funding availability. ecosystem will be watershed in Pennsylvania and served to transfer Both modeling efforts are part of the ongoing convened in Chi- cago Dec. 3 by U.S. technological tools and lessons learned from the Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program, a fed- EPA Administrator project to the local watershed community. erally authorized initiative to aid state and local Mike Leavitt. With Led by Dr. Rick Diz of Gannon University=s resource agencies in predicting the effects of var- invitations isssued to hundreds of regional Department of Environmental Science and ious actions upon soil erosion and sedimentation. leaders and stake- Engineering, the workshop provided training on The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which funds holders, the meeting marks the start of a Geographic Information System (GIS) software, the effort, is partnering with the Great Lakes process to design a the BASINS (Better Assessment Science Inte- Commission and other parties in the develop- strategy to protect grating Point and Nonpoint Sources) multipur- ment of the computer models. and restore the Great Lakes, as directed by pose environmental analysis system, and SWAT Contact: Tom Crane, [email protected]; or presidential executive (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) software used Laura Kaminski, [email protected]. order. Look for details in the next issue of the Advisor. RDX Conference (continued from page 3) political legitimacy for sound policy decisions.” IJC, and dozens of other project partners. Panel discussions featured Brian Maloney, With attendees from all eight Great Lakes states Ontario’s chief information officer (CIO), and and the provinces of Ontario and Québec, the Ken Theis, deputy CIO with the Michigan event featured more than 45 contributed papers, Department of Information Technology. E-mail as well as spam and Internet security were discussed by p l e n a r y Karl Jacob, a well-known entrepreneur and s e s s io n s , CEO/co-founder of Cloudmark, Inc. A strategic t r a i n i n g plan for the Great Lakes Information Network s e m i n a r s (GLIN), managed since 1993 by the Great Lakes and focus Commission, was also highlighted during the group dis- three-day agenda. c u s sion s. Great Lakes Information Management The RDX Achievement awards were presented to Eric Conference Swanson, Michigan Dept. of Information Tech- is envi- nology, Center for Geographic Information; and sioned as Mike Robertson, Ontario Ministry of Natural a biennial Regional Data Exchange challenges and opportunities are debated Resources, Land Information Office. event, with by (l. to r.): Roger Gauthier, Great Lakes Commission; Mike Robert- The conference was co-sponsored by the U.S. the next son, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; and Greg Buehler, Open EPA Great Lakes National Program Office and conference Geospatial Consortium. the Great Lakes Commission, with support from tentatively the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- planned for spring 2006 in New York State. istration, the American Society for Photogram- Conference proceedings will be available at metry and Remote Sensing (Western & Eastern http://rdx.glc.org/ and on CD by Dec. 15. Con- Great Lakes regions and Central New York), tact: Christine Manninen, [email protected]. www.glc.org September/October 2004 • Advisor 5 Commission Briefs 2004 Annual Meeting (continued from page one)

ernors. The Commission’s seven priorities, first ‘sustainability’ philosophy,” Donahue said. “It is introduced in 2001 with the inaugural edition of founded on the principle that true success can be its Great Lakes Program to Ensure Environmental and achieved only by recognizing the complementary Economic Prosperity, have provided a foundation nature and interconnectedness of environmental for multiple regional initia- and economic goals.” tives in recent years. The annual meeting also featured reports on State delegations commit- three major binational initiatives and their rel- ted to work more closely evance to ecosystem restoration and protection: with their Washington the upcoming review of the Canada-United offices to effectively convey States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the region’s priorities. and the ongoing Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Accelerating efforts to raise River Study and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence the Commission’s profile Seaway Study. and advance its views in Presentations by the host province of Ontario, Washington and in the whose delegation is chaired by Bill Carr, region should also be a prior- addressed current provincial initiatives, includ- ity, according to Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, chair of his state’s delegation. Bill Carr, chair of the Ontario Delegation and avid “I think it’s important for hockey fan, offers some additional priorities for consideration. the Great Lakes Commission to become more prominent in letting people know what we’re doing,” he said, recognizing the challenge of communicating with a large and diverse community of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence interests. Huntley also noted the large number of newly appointed Commissioners and the tremendous expertise, influence and enthusiasm they bring to the Commission. To fully tap this great Gail Krantzberg, director of the International Joint Com- potential, Commissioners agreed to develop a mission’s Great Lakes Regional Office, awaits her turn to discuss strategic plan development during the comment strategy to enhance direct involvement of all session for Observer agencies and partners. Commissioners in priority setting, policy development and advocacy. ing a study of a proposed integrated transporta- “We have an excellent foundation on which tion network for the “Golden Horseshoe” region to build,” observed Commission president/ encircling Lake Ontario that will support envi- CEO Dr. Mike Donahue. “The Commis- ronmental and open space objectives. sion is engaged in vibrant and growing policy Immediately following the conclusion of the research and development initiatives, respond- meeting, the Commission co-hosted the opening to member priorities in a range of areas that ing reception for the biennial State of the Lakes showcase ecosystem protection, restoration and Ecosystem Conference (SOELC), held Oct. 6-8 sustainable use.” at the same location, Toronto’s Delta Chelsea He presented the Commission with a descrip- Hotel. tive inventory of nearly 60 distinct programs Contact: Mike Donahue, [email protected]. and projects that address those priorities. “The Commission is unique in that it embraces a

6 Advisor • September/October 2004 www.glc.org Commission Briefs

Huntley elected chair of Great Lakes Commission

Minnesota state Rep. Thomas Huntley (D- ity, a post he has held three times, he has a strong Duluth), a 12-year veteran of the Great Lakes interest in maritime issues. Commission, was elected chair of the organiza- He is also director of institutional relations for tion by his fellow Commissioners at the conclu- the U-M School of Medicine; and has served on sion of the 2004 Annual Meeting, Oct. 4-5 in the Governor’s Joint Health Care Task Force and Toronto. John Goss, director of the Indiana the Minnesota Terrorism Preparedness Advisory Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was Committee. elected vice chair. Goss was Huntley, who served as vice chair the past two named by the years, succeeds Ohio DNR Director Sam Speck, late Gov. Frank who under Commission bylaws now assumes the O’Bannon to post of Immediate Past Chair. head the Indi- “The Great Lakes are in a crucial period right ana DNR in now, as we face decisions on a broad range of January 2002. critical issues regarding water use, water qual- Prior to that, ity, invasive species, shipping, national policy he served a and more,” Huntley said. “It’s essential that the n i n e - y e a r Great Lakes community speak with a single tenure as head voice regarding these issues, and I’m deeply of the Indiana honored that my colleagues have placed me in Department of a role to help harmonize our message as chair of Tourism and the Great Lakes Commission.” concurrently From left, Wisconsin Commissioner Todd Ambs, Vice Chair John Goss, Chair Tom Huntley, and Immediate Past Chair Sam Speck in An associate professor of biochemistry and on the Indi- conversation following the conclusion of the meeting. molecular biology in the School of Medicine ana Natural and Department of Chemistry at the Univer- Resources Commission. He earlier served as sity of Minnesota, Huntley was elected to the O’Bannon’s chief of staff and was deputy mayor Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992. A of the city of Bloomington. former chair of the Duluth-Seaway Port Author- Contact: Mike Donahue, [email protected].

Tools for water conservation released An online water conservation directory, with and technologies in the Great Lakes-St. Law- more than 150 links to tools, data and informa- rence region and worldwide. All are available at tion, has been completed by the Great Lakes www.glc.org/wateruse/conservation. Commission and is now available for public use. The tool kit is one of a series of Great Lakes The searchable directory is the final element Protection Fund projects undertaken by the in a water conservation “tool kit” developed by Commission to provide practical and scientific the Commission for use by public water sup- support toward meeting the Great Lakes gover- pliers, as well as state and provincial agencies. nors’ and premiers’ commitments under Annex The tool kit provides information on technol- 2001 of the Great Lakes Charter, including mea- ogy, educational resources, organizations, sures to promote the efficient use and conserva- international resources, and municipal water tion of the waters of the Great Lakes basin. conservation programs within and outside the More information is available on the Council of Great Lakes region. Great Lakes Governors web site, www.cglg.org. Other elements of the tool kit include a series Contact: Becky Lameka, [email protected]. of three reports on water conservation practices

www.glc.org September/October 2004 • Advisor 7 Point: counterpoint Beach access: Should the Great Lakes shore be open to all?

Larry Mitchell, Sr., League of Ohio Sportsmen POINT “You don’t belong here.” erties. To build exclusive developments where the That is a common refrain from landowners general public is neither welcome nor wanted. To who have decided that the beaches of the Great “groom” the beaches and get rid of the “weeds.” Lakes are theirs alone. To destroy the critical habitat that is the nesting Across the Great Lakes states there is a grow- grounds for waterfowl today and will be our fishing movement to add an “admission charge” to eries when the waters rise again. the beaches of the lakes. The charge is land Protecting the Public Trust is not only about ownership, and very few citizens will be fortu- walking the beach. It’s about protecting the habi- nate enough to enjoy what is truly theirs. tat that is exposed today. Taxpayers have spent From the founding of our country, the shores millions of dollars to restore these critical habi- and waters of the Great Lakes have been in the tats for both fish and waterfowl, money that will public trust. In this area – codified in federal be wasted if they are given to private landowners. Larry Mitchell, Sr., is law as the beach below the ordinary high water And these critical habitats will be in great danger president of the League of mark – the general public has had the right to of destruction. Ohio Sportsmen, the Ohio affiliate of the National walk, fish, birdwatch and enjoy the Great Lakes It is time for both sportsmen and the general Wildlife Federation. for more than 200 years. public to stand up and demand that the public But now, in this period of low water levels, trust and its critical habitats be protected – for some landowners – and developers – want to us, for our children and grandchildren.

use the public trust lands to extend their prop- counterpoint Diane Katz, Mackinac Center for Public Policy Great Lakes devotees have nothing to fear purposes of protecting navigation. from legislative and judicial efforts to protect This position is consistent with numerous property rights along the water’s edge. Private legal opinions dating as far back as 1896 and as ownership of land yields greater environmen- recently as 1994. Moreover, both the ruling and tal, economic and social benefits than govern- the Ohio legislation are compatible with laws in ment control. neighboring states as well as in Delaware, Maine, Both Michigan and Ohio have lately debated Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, whether the public can demand access to shore- Virginia and Wisconsin. line exposed by low lake levels adjoining private The public can still enjoy strolling our beloved property. The Michigan Court of Appeals in beaches. As the Michigan Court of Appeals Diane Katz is director Glass v. Goeckel upheld legal precedent in recog- noted, “The state has several means available to of science, environment and technology policy for nizing “the exclusive right [of property owners] it in order to preserve Great Lakes beaches for the Mackinac Center for to the use and enjoyment of the land that, once public use without interfering with a riparian Public Policy, a research and educational institute submerged, has now become exposed by reced- owner’s property rights.” in Midland, Mich. ing waters.” In Ohio, legislation approved by the There is ample evidence that property owners state House and pending in the Senate would are superior stewards. Unlike government, prop- likewise affirm the rights of owners to control erty owners have a direct stake in protecting their The views expressed are those of the authors or access to their beach property. investment. Collectivism, on the other hand, has the organizations they The Michigan decision is under appeal, while repeatedly wrought environmental ruin. represent alone and do Even if the state proved to be a faultless care- not necessarily reflect the outcome in Ohio is uncertain. But the essence those of the Great Lakes of the riparian rights tradition in both states is a taker, citizens benefit more from privately held Commission or its mem- property owner’s exclusive access to water. State property. As John Adams said, “Property must be ber jurisdictions. control is rightly limited to submerged lands for secured or liberty cannot exist.”

8 Advisor • September/October 2004 www.glc.org Around the Lakes First Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup begins on the Detroit River

An inlet called the Black Lagoon, one of the The Black Lagoon cleanup is an important most toxic hot spots on the Detroit River, is precedent for federal, state and local govern- the first Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) ments working together to fund and implement to benefit from cleanup funds under the Great complex, costly and large-scale contami- Lakes Legacy Act. nated sediment cleanups. Passage of the On a bright, September morning, U.S. EPA Legacy Act and funding for AOC cleanups Administrator Mike Leavitt joined federal and have been long-standing priorities of the state agency leaders and local officials in Tren- Great Lakes Commission and the many ton, Mich., to formally kick off the cleanup local advisory groups in the AOCs. effort. The project is being implemented with The Great Lakes Legacy Act, signed into $4.2 million in Legacy Act funding and $2.3 law in 2002, authorizes $270 million over million in states funds from the Clean Michigan five years to remediate contaminated sedi- Initiative bond program. ments in the 31 U.S. and binational Great The cleanup will remove approximately Lakes Areas of Concern. Congress appro- 90,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated priated $10 million for the Legacy Act in with mercury, PCBs, oil and grease, lead and fiscal year 2004; fiscal year 2005 fund- zinc from the bottom of the lagoon, which is ing remains unresolved. The Great Lakes a source of pollution to the Detroit River and, Commission has been a leading advocate ultimately, Lake Erie. The city of Trenton plans for full appropriations, noting the Legacy Marc Tuchman, U.S. EPA, Great to redevelop the area, and Mayor Gerald Brown Act’s critical role in large-scale ecosystem Lakes National Program Office, left, and U.S. EPA Administrator Mike has estimated the cleanup could boost nearby protection and restoration efforts. Leavitt examine a sample of toxic property values by $60 million or more. For more information, see www.epa.gov/ sediment taken from the Detroit River’s Black Lagoon. A U.S. EPA The cleanup is expected to be completed by grtlakes/sediment/legacy/index.html. sediment sampling vessel, the Mud- January 2005. Contact: Matt Doss, [email protected]. puppy, is in the background.

GAO calls for clearly defined restoration goals Current Great Lakes monitoring efforts are ence (SOLEC) process to develop indicators for inadequate for assesssing restoration prog- reporting on environmental conditions in the ress and compliance with the Canada-United Great Lakes basin. However, it said the SOLEC States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement indicators tend to be based on research, rather (GLWQA), according to a recently released than decisionmaking needs, and do not assess report from the U.S. Government Accountabil- whether conditions are improving or deteriorat- ity Office (GAO). ing based on measurable restoration goals. The report, released in September, found that It also found there is confusion as to whether current monitoring does not provide the com- primary responsibility for leading restoration prehensive information needed to assess overall efforts lies with U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes National conditions in the Great Lakes basin. It notes Program Office (GLNPO) or with the Great that a binational monitoring program required Lakes Interagency Task Force, recently estab- under the GLWQA has yet to be fully developed, lished within U.S. EPA by executive order. while other state and federal monitoring efforts, The GAO recommended that Congress clarify though useful, are limited in scope to specific the issue and direct the entity it selects to purposes or geographic areas. develop and prioritize measurable goals for the The GAO reported that the U.S. Environmen- Great Lakes basin. tal Protection Agency has relied heavily on the The full report, GAO-04-1024, is available at binational State of the Lakes Ecosystem Confer- www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-1024. www.glc.org September/October 2004 • Advisor 9 Around the Lakes Daniels, Obama head list of newly elected Great Lakes leaders

The Nov. 2 election brought a number of new rights attorney and community organizer prior Centralized Air faces to the Great Lakes political landscape, with to his election to the state senate. Emissions Repository Online (CAROL) one new governor, a new U.S. senator and nine In the five other races for the U.S. Senate http://mds.glc.org/carol/

Great Lakes Links & Publications new members of the House of Representatives. in Great Lakes states, the incumbents were

RDX Conference In Indiana, the region’s only gubernatorial race re-elected to another term – Sens. Evan Bayh Proceedings saw the team of Mitch (D-Ind.), Russ Fein- (available Dec. 15) Daniels and state gold (D-Wis.), Charles http://rdx.glc.org Sen. Becky Skillman Schumer (D-N.Y.), Water Conservation (R) defeat incumbent Arlan Specter (R-Pa.) Tool Kit www.glc.org/wateruse/ Gov. Joe Kernan and and George Voinovich conservation Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis (R-Ohio). Council of Great Lakes (D). Kernan, the Two upsets were Governors former lieutenant gov- reported in races for www.cglg.org ernor, was sworn in the U.S. House of Rep- Mackinac Center for following the sudden Mitch Daniels Barack Obama resentatives. In Illinois’ Public Policy www.mackinac.org passing of Gov. Frank 8th District, business O’Bannon in Septem- owner Melissa Bean (D) defeated incumbent League of Ohio ber 2003. Rep. Phillip Crane (R) in the 8th District, while Sportsmen www.leagueofohiosports Daniels is the former in Indiana’s 9th District, business owner Mike men.org director of the U.S. Sobrel (R) apparently defeated incumbent Rep. Great Lakes Legacy Act Office of Management Baron Hill, (D) pending a recount. www.epa.gov/grtlakes/ and Budget under The other seven new members of Congress sediment/legacy/ President George W. from Great Lakes states were elected in districts GAO Report on Great Bush, a post he held where the incumbent chose not to run. They are Lakes Monitoring and until June 2003, when (with retiring representative in brackets): Restoration Becky Skillman www.gao.gov/new.items/ he resigned to return Michigan: d041024.pdf to Indiana. During his tenure, he also served as 7th Dist. – Former state Sen. Joseph Schwarz State of the Lakes (SOLEC) a member of the National Security Council and (R) def. paralegal and organic farmer Sharon 2005 Draft Report www.binational.net the Homeland Security Council. Prior to join- Renier (D) [Rep. Nick Smith-R] ing the Bush Administration, he was president New York: of the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical firm 27th Dist. – Erie Co. Comptroller Nancy Eli Lily Co. Naples (R) def. Atty. Brian Higgins (D) [Rep. Skillman is the third-ranking member of the Jack Quinn-R] Indiana Senate, holding the post of majority 29th Dist. – State Sen. Randy Kuhl (R) def. caucus chair. She has been a member of the state nonprofit executive Samara Barend (D) [Rep. Senate since 1992, representing the 44th Dis- Amory Houghton Jr.-R] trict in southern Indiana. Pennsylvania: The Illinois race for the U.S. Senate drew 8th Dist. – Atty. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) def. national attention, as state Sen. Barack Obama Atty. Virginia Schrader (D) [Rep. Jim Green- (D) defeated author and former radio host Alan wood-R] Keyes (R) in a race for the seat currently held by 13th Dist. – State Sen. Allyson Schwartz (D) retiring Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R). Elected to the def. ophthalmologist Melissa Brown (R) [Rep. Illinois Senate in 1996, Obama represents the Joseph Hoeffel –D] 13th District on Chicago’s south side and is chair 15th Dist. – State Sen. Charles Dent (R) def. of the Public Health and Welfare Committee. A business owner Joe Driscoll (D) [Rep. Pat graduate of Harvard Law School, he was a civil Toomey-R]

10 Advisor • September/October 2004 www.glc.org Around the Lakes SOLEC 2004: “State of the Lakes” mixed

With a theme of Physical Integrity, the sixth overall Great Lakes system include invasive spe- biennial State of the Lakes Ecosystem Confer- cies, shoreline development, habitat loss, over- ence (SOLEC) attracted hundreds of delegates fishing, land use change, use restrictions due to and lively debate Oct. 6-8 in Toronto, Ontario. bacterial contamination, and emerging chemical Hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection contaminants. Agency and Environment Canada, the event pre- The Great Lakes Commission played a signifi- Did you know sented a comprehensive assessment of the health cant role in the meeting, with staff organizing of the Great Lakes ecosystem, based on assess- sessions and making presentations on subjects Asian carp aren’t only found in the Mississippi and Illinois ments of 56 indicators. The assessments are now such as coastal wetlands monitoring, information rivers in the U.S. – sometimes based on indicator “bundles,” the result of peer management, beach health, urbanization impacts they turn up on the table as well! Live fish markets have reviews held over the past two years to identify on water quality, and watershed monitoring. been known to offer it and strengths and weaknesses of the SOLEC process Other highlights of SOLEC included a presen- other potential invasive species. For more information, see and products. tation on the “Ecological Footprint of the Great the current ANS Update insert The revised indicator framework now features Lakes Basin,” presented by Dr. William Rees, in this issue of the Advisor. the following nine categories: contamination, a renowned researcher from the University of ? biotic communities, invasive species, coastal British Columbia. zones, aquatic habitats, human health, land use/ “The Great Lakes region is fairly typical of cover, resource utilization, and climate change. wealthy regions around the world that have Other categories (and sub-categories) may be exceeded their local biocapacity and impose a incorporated in the future. heavy ecological load on the rest of the planet,” Under the revised suite of indicators, overall Rees said. “We need to step back and question assessments for all lake systems were mixed. what we are gaining in the mad rush to accumu- A “mixed” ranking indicates the ecosystem late ever-greater quantities of material goods.” component(s) display both good and degraded The draft State of the Lakes 2005 report is features. The most recurring stresses on the available on CD or via www.binational.net.

Great Lakes Calendar

Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research Great Lakes Day in Washington Further details and a more January 6-9, 2005, Windsor, Ontario March 2, 2005, Washington, D.C. extensive calendar are avail- Contact: Daniel Heath, 519-253-3000, ext.3762 Contact: Mike Donahue, 734-971-9135, able online via the Great [email protected] [email protected] Lakes Information Network (www.great-lakes.net). If 2005 Science Vessel Coordination Workshop and Annual International Conference on the you have an event you’d like Great Lakes Conference St. Lawrence River Ecosystem us to include, please contact January 18-22, 2005, Traverse City, Mich. May 16-18, 2005, Cornwall, Ontario Kirk Haverkamp at 734-971- Contact: Mark Burrows, 519-257-6709, Contact: Christina Collard, 613-936-6620, 9135 or [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

International Conference on Remediation of IAGLR Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research Contaminated Sediments May 23-27, 2005, Ann Arbor, Mich. Save trees and money! January 24-27, 2005, New Orleans, La. Contact: Tom Johengen, 734-764-2426, If you prefer to read the Contact: Joan Purvis, 800-783-6338, [email protected] electronic version of the [email protected] Advisor online via the 2005 Great Lakes Conference and IJC Biennial Commission’s home page Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Science Forum Meeting on Water Quality (www.glc.org), please let us January 26-27, 2005, Green Bay, Wis. June 9 -11, 2005, Kingston, Ontario know and we’ll cancel your Contact: Laura England, 608-250-9971, Contact: Jennifer Day, 519-257-6733, print subscription. [email protected] [email protected] www.glc.org September/October 2004 • Advisor 11 The Last Word Where in the Great Lakes? Making a great organization greater

What an honor it is to be elected chair of the Great Lakes Commission! I look forward to working with Vice Chair John Goss, our Board of Directors and the entire membership to make a great organization even greater. Immediate Past Chair Sam Speck has worked relent- lessly over the past two years to harmonize the region’s priorities and position the organization to serve as the Tom Huntley source for data, information and objective policy analysis. Based on that success, my chairmanship will feature three primary themes: • Member involvement: The Commission has many new members, all with impressive credentials, influence and expertise. We must – and will – tap Can you identify this Great Lakes landmark? If their full potential as we work together for a clean environment and a pros- you think you know, e-mail your answer, along perous economy. with your name, address and phone number to • Advocacy: Tight federal budgets will present special challenges this year [email protected] or mail it to the Advisor at the for the Great Lakes. We will elevate our profile in Washington and partner address on the mailing panel below. All correct in new ways to make sure the region speaks with one voice to get what it responses received by Dec. 17, 2004 will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive needs – and deserves. his/her choice of a Great Lakes Commission • Sustainability: The Great Lakes Commission is unique in that it recog- beach towel or a $10 credit toward the purchase nizes the complementary nature of environmental and economic goals. We of any Commission publication. need to celebrate that uniqueness, and will work to bring disparate sectors of the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence community together to advance the notion Last issue’s winner was Christine Rohn- of sustainability in resource management. Tielke, of Avon, Ohio, Some things of course, will not change: our binational focus, our dedica- who identified this tion to objective research and policy analysis, and the growth curve for our photo of the annual Labor Day Mackinac technical and decision support capabilities. Bridge Walk. Thanks to Let’s get started! everyone who entered! Photo: Mackinac Bridge Authority.

Hon. Thomas E. Huntley, chair, Great Lakes Commission Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

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