Registration for the Great Lakes Public Forum

This is the last post. WIMS has now closed all operations. I will be blogging about broken government and related matters @ http://jpmcjefferson.blogspot.com

<> Registration for the Great Lakes Public Forum - The Great Lakes Public Forum, occurring once every three years, provides an opportunity for the United States and Canada to discuss and receive public comments on the state of the Lakes and binational priorities for science and action; and provides an opportunity for the International Joint Commission to discuss and receive public comment on the Progress Report of the Parties -- October 4-6, Toronto

Ohio Releases Blueprint to Curb Toxic Algae - But Plan Falls Short

<> Ohio Releases Blueprint to Curb Toxic Algae - But Plan Falls Short - Governor Kasich's administration released its plan for curbing Lake Erie's toxic algae, the plan includes a number of positive proposals but as  drafted, it falls short of the actions needed to fully solve this problem -- specifically, the Collaborative Implementation Plan includes an encouraging new program to verify implementation of conservation practices, but overall it lacks effective solutions to reduce runoff pollution from big agriculture, which scientists recognize as the primary source of pollution feeding the lake's algae.

Lake Erie Phosphorus Objectives Review Panel Meeting

<> Lake Erie Phosphorus Objectives Review Panel Meeting - Meeting June 21 & 22, in Chicago to provide advice on development of phosphorus loading targets for Lake Erie – links to agenda and further information.

On-board water treatment is next line of defense against invasion

<> On-board water treatment is next line of defense against invasion - The WI Department of Natural Resources expects to begin enforcing the new requirements in the state's ports some time this year, as soon as the U.S. Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization complete final technical and legal details that will allow state and federal regulations to take effect -- treatment equipment adds about $500,000 to the cost of a new ship -- costs twice as much to retrofit a ship with the equipment

Public Notice On City of Waukesha Declaration of Finding

<> Public Notice On City of Waukesha Declaration of Finding - The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body has issued a Declaration of Finding on the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin's application for a diversion of Great Lakes water -- also the Compact Council will meet to consider the application on June 21, 2016 beginning no sooner than 11:30 a.m. CDT May 18, 2016 Final Regional Body Declaration of Finding Miller, Dingell Send Letter Urging Snyder to Deny Wisconsin's Water Diversion Request

Great Lakes Harbor fact sheets

<> Great Lakes Harbor fact sheets - Curious about the many harbors in the Great Lakes? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared fact sheets with information about harbors throughout the Great Lakes region

Great Lakes Body Recommends Modifications to Waukesha's Proposal

<> Great Lakes Body Recommends Modifications to Waukesha's Proposal - The vote was 9-0, with Minnesota abstaining for a modified proposal from 10 MGD to 8 MGD -- groups are disappointed that the Regional Body did not completely reject the diversion proposal -- recommendation goes to Great Lakes governors for a vote on June 21. Waukesha Diversion Application website Groups React to Recommendation on Precedent-Setting Great Lakes Water Diversion Request - 5/18/16.  "We are disappointed that the Regional Body did not completely reject Waukesha's flawed diversion proposal." Great Lakes group gives preliminary approval of Waukesha's water request Waukesha Mayor's statement & Excerpts of the Declaration of Finding

U.S. Rep Kaptur seeks to cut off funding for open lake dumping

<> U.S. Rep Kaptur seeks to cut off funding for open lake dumping - U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) says she will attempt to cut off all federal funding for open lake dumping on Lake Erie being carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Is your water department up for a little friendly competition?

<> Is your water department up for a little friendly competition? - The Great Lakes Protection Fund has awarded a grant to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to conduct a collaborative competition of municipal water utilities -- participants will get to test drive new technology that enables them to reduce their mercury emissions – simply by scheduling their pumps to operate when cleaner sources of energy are available.

Draft Nearshore Framework for the Great Lakes Available for Comment

<> Draft Nearshore Framework for the Great Lakes Available for Comment - A Nearshore Framework for the Great Lakes has been drafted and is now available for a sixty-day review period ending on July 12, 2016 -- the Nearshore Framework satisfies a commitment in the Lakewide Management Annex of the Agreement to "develop, within three years, an integrated nearshore framework to be implemented collaboratively through the lakewide management process for each Great Lake." The Great Lakes Nearshore Framework – 25 pages

American company alleges Ontario invented pretexts to stop Great Lakes wind farms

<> American company alleges Ontario invented pretexts to stop Great Lakes wind farms - Canadian taxpayers are facing a $475-million free-trade claim from an American company that alleges the Ontario government invented scientific pretexts to stop wind farms in the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Reps Put Off Opinion on Waukesha Application

<> Great Lakes Reps Put Off Opinion on Waukesha Application - Waukesha will have to wait at least another week to learn whether its request for Lake Michigan water may move forward. Great Lakes delegates met Tuesday and Wednesday in Chicago -- while they were supposed to decide whether to recommend approval of Waukesha's request; instead the group moved to delay -- Regional Body agreed to meet by webinar on May 18. Updated--revised final draft Declaration of Finding dated May 11, 2016 City of Waukesha Diversion Application website

Who Gets to Drink From the Great Lakes?

<> Who Gets to Drink From the Great Lakes? - A city's proposal to divert Lake Michigan water is raising concerns about future water grabs from outlying regions.

Great Lakes states tighten spigot on Waukesha's water request

<> Great Lakes states tighten spigot on Waukesha's water request - Great Lakes officials are recommending numerous conditions on distribution of the water and return of treated wastewater to the lake, a draft document says.

Soo Locks failure could cripple U.S. economy

<> Soo Locks failure could cripple U.S. economy - A recently released federal study warns that if the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., were to fail, it would cripple the economy. . .

Ohio EPA boss to Army Corps of Engineers: "Obviously, doing nothing is not acceptable" to clean up toxic blob

<> Ohio EPA boss to Army Corps of Engineers: "Obviously, doing nothing is not acceptable" to clean up toxic blob - The head of the Ohio EPA today characterized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' response as "less than encouraging" and offered a point-by-point rebuttal to the agency's description of a toxic mass of sediment located on the bottom of Lake Erie off the Cleveland shoreline. Corps Response to Ohio EPA's Lake Erie Sediment Concerns -[previous WIMS report, 5/4/16]

The NEMWI and Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Co-Host Congressional Briefing on the 2016 Asian Carp Action Plan

<> The NEMWI and Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee Co-Host Congressional Briefing on the 2016 Asian Carp Action Plan - View the Briefing: The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), in conjunction with NEMWI, held a Congressional briefing on the 2016 Asian Carp Action Plan

Corps Response to Ohio EPA's Lake Erie Sediment Concerns

<> Corps Response to Ohio EPA's Lake Erie Sediment Concerns - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says, "No credible scientific evidence supports the hypothesis that a "toxic blob" is migrating towards Cleveland's water intakes. . . we firmly believe that the lake bottom sediment in this area is not migrating nor does it pose a risk to Cleveland's drinking water now, or in the future; it is important to know that there is no credible scientific evidence concluding that it has ever posed a danger to Cleveland's drinking water.

Pipelines safest alternative, says Sarnia mayor

<> Pipelines safest alternative, says Sarnia mayor - Bradley said Sarnia has been working through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to press for more accountability by pipeline operators, but he added the alternative to pipelines is to have more oil moving by rail and ships. Pipeline under Great Lakes could be investigated