Report Calls For Adoption Of "Climate-Ready" Strategies

Oct 29: A report released by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) indicates that to combat the impacts of rising temperatures caused by global warming, communities across the Great Lakes region have begun putting in place strategies to protect people, wildlife and the Lakes themselves. Melinda Koslow, regional campaign manager of NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center said, "Rising temperatures and more severe storms are already having profound impacts on people, wildlife and communities. For the first time, we are seeing communities adopting innovative strategies to safeguard from climate change our economy, public health, quality of life and natural resources like the Great Lakes."
 
    The report, Improving the Odds: Using Climate-Readiness to Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change on the Great Lakes Ecosystem, documents the efforts of cities, businesses, scientists and resource managers to craft strategies to adapt to rising temperatures. Koslow said, "Being ready for effects of climate change is emerging as the next step for Great Lakes protection. Confronting climate change will require the nation to enact a clean energy plan that reduces global warming pollution, but there is more to the story: We need to help the Great Lakes and our communities adapt to the changes in climate we're already experiencing and that will get worse."
 
    The report chronicles a diverse set of case studies -- from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, where safety issues from thinning ice on the seasonal Madeline Island Ice Road over Lake Superior will require the implementation of a public warning system and emergency plan, to Milwaukee, WI, where city managers, scientists and public health managers are collaborating to update the city's sewer system based on the impact different climate and weather scenarios will have on the system. The report notes that while cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Quebec City, Canada, have crafted city-wide adaptation plans, more needs to be done. The report calls for the widespread adoption of so-called "climate-ready" strategies.
 
    Access a release from NWF and link to the complete 60-page report (click here).

$900,000 For Great Lakes Coastal Observing System

Oct 28:  In order to restore the Great Lakes and accomplish work set out in the President's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan, NOAA and many other partners are creating a comprehensive system of observations for the Great Lakes.  With funds from GLRI, NOAA awarded nearly $900,000 to the Ann Arbor based Limnotech, Inc to take the lead the effort in creating the archetype for the near-term implementation of the Great Lakes coastal observing system. On October 13, Limnotech started the work and services required to provide a comprehensive near-term design to provide data on the physical, chemical and biological parameters necessary for effective resource management in support of remediation, restoration and conservation actions through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The final product, due out in the Winter of 2011, will include the design, trade studies and price and schedule for the implementation of near term design architecture and alternatives for the phased implementation over the first five years.

            The Ann Arbor based Limnotech will work closely with the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System, the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and its experienced project team.  LimnoTech's project team is comprised of Applied Science Associates, Clarkson University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Joe DePinto from Limnotech said, "Together this team has the depth and breadth of expertise and experience to cover all aspects of providing a comprehensive design – observation technology, observation network design and implementation, data management and communication, data analysis and modeling, and data/products and services development and delivery."

 

    Access a release from NOAA with further details (click here). Access the GLERL website for more information (click here). Access the GLRI website for more information (click here).

Administration Meeting Draws Great Lakes Wind Advocates

Oct 27: The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted a workshop with the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative (GLWC) in Chicago on October 26 – 27, 2010, focused on the siting of offshore wind power in the Great Lakes. The two day workshop brought together wind developers, Federal and state regulators, environmental advocates, and other regional stakeholders to discuss methods for ensuring greater clarity, certainty and coordination of Federal and state decision-making for offshore wind development in the Great Lakes.

 

    CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley said, "President Obama has made an unprecedented commitment to renewable energy development in the United States. Increasing our wind power generation is a critical component to building greater energy independence and creating jobs here at home. We must improve and increase the lines of communication to bring wind development in the Great Lakes closer to fruition."

 

    According to a release, more than 100 people participated in the workshop, including representatives from Federal agencies, state governments, energy companies, state Public Service Commissions, wind developers and manufacturers, non-profit organizations and other industry experts. The workshop offered participants an opportunity to: learn more about the role of various Federal agencies in the siting of offshore wind power in the Great Lakes; and clarify the process by which developers, states and other stakeholders can engage federal and state regulators in offshore wind development in the Great Lakes. The workshop concluded with these stakeholders charting a path forward to develop a collaborative process to achieve greater clarity and certainty during Federal decision making with regard to offshore wind development in the Great Lakes.

 

    Access a joint release from the agencies (click here). Access the GLWC website for more information (click here).

NRDC Detailed Study Proposes Solution To Asian Carp Problem

Oct 20: A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) calls for building two strategically-placed barriers between the Great Lakes and Chicago River which they say could open the door to a revitalized waterway and surrounding communities,  while effectively shutting the door on Asian carp. The report investigates a variety of hydrological separation scenarios in order to determine the best way to fix both the Asian Carp crisis and the litany of issues associated with Chicago's aging water infrastructure through one smart solution. The 70+ page technical document has been summarized into a six-page briefing.

 

    NRDC Midwest Program Director Henry Henderson, who also served as the City of Chicago's first Commissioner of the Environment said, "The Carp crisis illuminates how unacceptable conditions are on the Chicago River. It is clear that the public is ready to re-imagine the waterway rather than accept an aging invasive species superhighway and open sewer status quo. We believe this report moves that process forward."

    The report, Re-Envisioning the Chicago River: Adopting Comprehensive Regional Solutions to the Invasive Species Crisis, studies the impact a separation would have in the complicated Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). It builds upon previous studies of potential separation sites in the CAWS and draws from a variety of city, state and federal data sources. The study was prepared with engineers from Shaw Environmental in partnership with NRDC with input from City, State, and Federal agency stakeholders. It is presented as the first big step in an iterative process to find a solution to the invasive species and Chicago River issues and is meant to inform the broader public discourse.

    In analyzing the local hydrology, the Shaw engineers determined that any rainfall over 0.67 inches would cause flooding and water quality problems due to infrastructure limitations. Shaw then evaluated possible separation sites based on their potential to rebuff invasive species as well as minimize storm impacts, focus investment in water quality improvements, leave recreational boat traffic largely unaffected, and spur the use of green infrastructure to help address the sewer capacity issues while bringing significant aesthetic and functional benefits to neighborhoods. Shaw's green infrastructure modeling showed that planting trees, bioswales and installing rain gardens or rain barrels could lead to substantial reduction in stormwater loads to the CAWS. 

    The report recommends barriers be placed at the Racine Pumping station on Bubbly Creek near the Bridgeport neighborhood and at the Calumet Wastewater Treatment Facility on the Cal-Sag Channel on the City's far southeast side. The report notes that separation would likely spur other positive outcomes, including fewer flooded basements and a cleaner river. NRDC believes it would also spur significant infrastructure investment. Coincidentally, this week, the Illinois Pollution Control Board is holding the final hearings in their historically-long proceedings on the decontamination of the Chicago River which could also force significant changes to the way the wastewater that makes up most of the river's flow is managed.

    One significant concern raised in the report is the potential impact that the barrier placement could have on navigation. Recreational boats will be largely unaffected by the barrier locations. Subsequent studies will have to look more closely at the movement of goods on the CAWS as the barrier in the Cal-Sag channel could limit some barge traffic. However, the report notes that this could lead to the development of a new intermodal facility that would better tie the waterways to the region's rich transportation infrastructure. Only 1% of goods moving through the Chicago area move through the CAWS. Better integration with roads and rails could actually spur commerce on the river.

    In a related matter, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued a release regarding the construction of a 1,177-foot main fence and a supplemental 494-foot debris catch fence that began in early September and was completed on Tuesday (October 19). The IDNR took a lead role in the fence project after identifying Eagle Marsh as a potential pathway for Asian carp to move from the Wabash River system into the Maumee River, a tributary to Lake Erie. Although the Wabash and Maumee basins drain in opposite directions and have no direct connection under normal conditions, their waters do comingle under certain flood conditions in Eagle Marsh, a 705-acre restored wetland near Fort Wayne.

    Access a release from NRDC (click here). Access the 6-page briefing document (click here). Access an NRDC website on the report (click here). Access a release from IDNR (click here).

Closing Arguments In Asian Carp Case In Chicago

Oct 18: According to media reports, "The reliability of DNA [eDNA] testing suggesting Asian carp may already be in waterways near Lake Michigan was the focus of final arguments Monday in a lawsuit seeking the closure of Chicago-area shipping locks to halt the spread of the invasive fish." The Judge is expected to rule on the matter within several weeks [See WIMS 9/8/10]. 

 

    Noah Hall, author of the Great Lakes Law blog reported that the oral argument in State of Michigan, et al. v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, et al., Case No. 1:10-cv-04457 (N.D. Ill.), was likely the final court hearing in a series of hearings held by District Judge Robert M. Dow to allow a full airing of the legal and factual issues relevant to the motion filed by the Great Lakes States (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) for a preliminary injunction against the Army Corps and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The states are seeking short-term measures, such as a temporary closure of the navigational locks connecting the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) to Lake Michigan, to head off the imminent threat of an Asian carp invasion. Hall reports that, "As their ultimate remedy in the case, the States seek an order compelling expedited review of permanently separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, to prevent invasive species from using the CAWS as a highway to travel in both directions."
 

    The UnLock Our Jobs coalition, a project of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois which is dedicated to protecting the waterway connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River issued a release saying, "The closing arguments provided by the plaintiff state attorneys general this week reiterate that their case depends entirely on unproven eDNA testing methods and the discovery of a single fish in Lake Calumet, likely transported by humans. Throughout the trial, the Great Lakes Attorneys General have failed to produce any evidence to support their claim that continued operation of the locks poses a public nuisance."

    Mark Biel, executive director of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and chair of the Coalition said, "This frivolous lawsuit has only shed more light on the state's complete lack of evidence supporting lock closure," said The plaintiff's case is based on flawed arguments. There is no evidence the barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System have failed, no evidence that economic or ecological harm to the Great Lakes is imminent and most importantly, no evidence that lock closure would reduce the risks to the Great Lakes. So while the Army Corps of Engineers and other government agencies rely on the opinion of experts, the plaintiff states continue to rely solely on speculation and fear mongering in this matter.  The final briefs submitted today only further expose the fact that their arguments are completely without merit."

    Access a Washington Post/AP media report on the hearing (click here). Access the posting of attorney Hall for links to extensive background and detailed insights to the legal options (click here). Access a release from the UnLock Our Jobs coalition (click here). Access the AsianCarp.org website for more information (click here).

IJC Expands Great Lakes Study To Include Climate Change

Oct 5: In response to the International Upper Great Lakes Study's report on the St. Clair River, and comments from the public on the report, the International Joint Commission (IJC) has issued a letter to the Study Board providing guidance on the ongoing work of the International Upper Great Lakes Study. The IJC has also issued letters to the Governments of Canada and the United States to inform them of this guidance.

    The previous report, Impacts on Upper Great Lakes Water Levels: St. Clair River, concluded the first phase of a study of the upper Great Lakes. It examined the physical changes in the St. Clair River since 1962 and recommended that measures to remediate the increased conveyance, or water-carrying capacity, of the river not be undertaken at this time. It also recommended that mitigation measures in the St. Clair River be examined as part of the comprehensive assessment of the future effects of climate change in the second phase of the study. Over the long term, the Study Board recommended that the Governments of Canada and the U.S. undertake cooperative efforts to improve the monitoring and analysis of Great Lakes water supplies and connecting channel flows.

    The IJC said it concurs with the recommendations in the report and has provided further guidance to the Board pertaining to the first recommendation that remedial measures not be undertake in the St. Clair River at this time. In this regard, the IJC has directed the Study Board to undertake an exploratory investigation of how raising the water-level regimes on Lakes Michigan and Huron by different amounts would affect interests on the Great Lakes system from Lake Superior to the St. Lawrence River. With respect to the second recommendation of the report, the Commission has agreed with the Study Board that it also review mitigative options based on potential climate change impacts.

    In addition, the Commission provided guidance to the Study Board on three important matters raised in its 7th Progress Report, directing them to: propose one alternative to the existing regulation plan based on its scientific investigations and extensive public input; establish a legal rationale for selecting a future regulation plan that allows for the possibility of new physical conditions under a changing climate; and, investigate and recommend institutional mechanisms for the management of water resources though one or more management boards in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River System.

    According to release, the study will continue to examine whether the IJC Order of Approval and plan for regulating Lake Superior outflows should be modified to address the changing climate and the evolving needs of users on lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie. The final report of the Study Board on the entire study is expected to be completed and submitted to the IJC by early 2012. Funded equally by the U.S. and Canadian governments, the $17.5 million (CAD approx $17.2 U.S.) study is being conducted by the binational, independent International Upper Great Lakes Study Board at the request of the IJC under the authority of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

    Access a release from IJC and links to the letter to the Study Board and governments, the previous study, the 7th Progress Report, and a key issues and response document (click here).

Agencies Launch Binational Asian Carp Risks Assessment

Oct 5: The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) praised Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea for launching a major initiative to assess the risk Asian carps pose to the Great Lakes. The risk assessment will be conducted jointly between scientists in Canada and the United States and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission will facilitate the project. The risk assessment will be the first binational effort to evaluate the likelihood of Asian carps spreading throughout the Great Lakes basin and to gauge the potential effect of the species on the Great Lakes ecosystem. The assessment will involve preeminent scientists in the field, will be peer-reviewed, and should take about eighteen months to complete.
 
    GLFC indicated that the non-natural connection -- the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal -- links the Mississippi basin to the Great Lakes and is the primary pathway of concern for the Asian carps. An electrical barrier on the waterway prevents carp migration, but sampling -- and the capture of one live bighead carp in June, 2010 -- has raised concern that Asian carps might be on the Lake Michigan side of the barrier, though probably in small numbers. GLFC has joined other agencies in working together to support measures to monitor carp movement and prevent entry into the Great Lakes. 
 
    David Ullrich, GLFC U.S. Section Chair said, "The Great Lakes Fishery Commission commends Canada for launching this initiative to better understand the potential for Asian carps to spread throughout the Great Lakes ecosystem. With this risk assessment, we will have a vastly improved understanding about where Asian carps might establish a population within the basin, as well as important information about the probable impact of Asian carps on the fishery and environment, should they enter the lakes."
 
    Michael Hansen the commission's vice chair and professor at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point said, "Scientists in both Canada and the United States have each conducted separate risk assessments to evaluate Asian carps and their effect on the environment. This information, to date, has been instrumental in justifying the critical importance of preventing the migration of these fish into the Great Lakes. The commission is pleased that Minister Shea has committed Canada to conducting a rigorous risk assessment that will include active participation from American scientists. The product will be the first and only basin-level, peer-reviewed consensus among top scientists about the risks of Asian carps."

    Access a release from GLFC (click here). Access more information on the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (click here).