IJC Report On Groundwater In The Great Lakes Basin

Jun 16: The International Joint Commission (IJC) released a major binational assessment of the threats to groundwater in the Great Lakes basin. IJC indicates that groundwater in the Great Lakes basin is similar in volume to Lake Michigan and provides a source of drinking water for millions of basin residents. Yet this major component of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem receives inadequate attention in policies designed to protect Great Lakes water quality. For example, Annex 16 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which addresses contaminated groundwater, is the shortest annex to the Agreement. The Agreement is currently being renegotiated by the governments of Canada and the United States.

    The report -- Groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin -- by the IJC's Great Lakes Science Advisory Board recommends a range of actions by Federal, state and provincial governments in the areas of research, monitoring, regulation, enforcement and financial support. Local governments are also encouraged to increase source-water protection, conservation measures and requirements for on-site wastewater treatment. In 13 appendices, the report assesses a range of specific threats to groundwater in the basin from de-icing compounds to confined animal feeding operations.

    Access a release from IJC (click here). Access the complete 162-page report (click here).

Call For Great Lakes Network Of Energy R&D Centers

Jun 8: The Brookings Institution has release a policy brief entitled, Hubs of Transformation: Leveraging the Great Lakes Research Complex for Energy Innovation. According to the brief, America needs to transform its energy system, and the Great Lakes region (including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and western New York) possesses many of the needed innovation assets. For that reason, the brief says that the "Federal government should leverage this troubled region's research and engineering strengths by launching a region-wide network of collaborative, high intensity energy research and innovation centers."

 

    The brief indicates, "The Federal government should systematically accelerate national clean energy innovation by launching a series of "themed" research and commercialization centers strategically situated to draw on the Midwest's rich complex of strong public universities, national and corporate research laboratories, and top-flight science and engineering talent. Organized around existing capacities in a hub-spoke structure that links fundamental science with innovation and commercialization, these research centers would engage universities, industries and labs to work on specific issues that would enable rapid deployment of new technologies to the marketplace. Along the way, they might well begin to transform a struggling region's ailing economy. Roughly six compelling innovation centers could reasonably be organized in the Great Lakes states with total annual funding between $1 billion and $2 billion."

    To achieve this broad goal, the brief recommends that the Federal government should: Increase energy research funding overall; Adopt more comprehensive approaches to research and development (R&D) that address and link multiple aspects of a specific problem, such as transportation; and Leverage existing regional research, workforce, entrepreneurial and industrial assets.

 

    Access an overview and link to the complete brief and a video (click here).

Latest Council Of Great Lakes Governors Newsletter

Jun 8: The Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG) announced that the June 2010 edition of its newsletter, THE COMPASS, is now available. Highlights in this issue include: A Message from Council Co-Chair Ohio Governor Ted Strickland; Governors Applaud Great Lakes Funding Bill; Companies Find Opportunities During South America Trade Mission; Compact Council and Regional Body to Meet June 10 in Chicago; Conference Advances Great Lakes Science Stratergy; Council Engages European Union Officials; and Asian Carp Hunt Continues in Chicago-Area Water.

 

    Access the latest CGLG newsletter and back issues (click here). Access the CGLG website for more information (click here).

Army Corps Studies On Asian Carp Control Options

Jun 3: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was directed in the Water Resources Development Act 2007 to conduct a study of a range of options or technologies for reducing impacts of hazards that may reduce the efficacy of the Electrical Dispersal Barriers located on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC). To expedite the evaluation, USACE divided the Efficacy study into several phases. USACE and its partner agencies in the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) released the interim III and IIIA reports for public review. The other phases are outlined in the ACRCC Framework (See links below). Interim Report IIIA is a final report. The public comment period for the draft Interim III report will end on June 15, 2010.

 

    The report, Interim IIIA, Fish Deterrent Barriers, Illinois and Chicago Area Waterways Risk Reduction Study and Integrated Environmental Assessment, considered how technologies such as bubbles, lights and sounds could be used to deter Asian carp movement. In the course of this evaluation, USACE determined that, while these technologies do show promise, further testing and calibration of this tool against Asian carp is needed. In addition, there is significant expense associated with the fabrication and installation of this technology. USACE recommends installing one acoustic bubble curtain with strobe lights (ABS fish deterrent) near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam as a demonstration project.

    The second report, Interim III, Modified Structures Operations, Chicago Area Waterways Risk Reduction Study and Integrated Environmental Assessment, evaluated the potential for risk reduction that might be achieved through changes in the operation of the Chicago Area Waterway structures, such as locks, sluice gates, and pumping stations. The report includes a Risk Assessment, prepared by USFWS based on input from a panel of experts. The risk assessment considered possible lock operation alternatives as well as biological, ecological and risk management factors. The Expert Risk Analysis Panel concluded there is no individual or combination of lock operation scenarios that will lower "the risk of Asian carp establishing self-sustaining populations in Lake Michigan to an acceptable level."

    The report's primary recommendation is to place screens on the outer two sluice gates at the T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago already placed similar screens on sluice gates at the Chicago River Controlling Works. After conducting a thorough analysis of modifications to lock operations, the report recommends intermittent lock operation on a case-by-case basis in support of fish management efforts such as spot piscicide application, or intensive commercial fishing efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

    Access a release from ACRCC with commenting instructions (click here). Access the ACRCC for further information including the Framework (click here). Access the Interim III report (click here, 12MB). Access the Interim IIIA report (click here, 5MB).

270 Projects Approved For Great Lakes Initiative Funding

May 28: U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office invited 270 finalists to submit applications for a total of $161,450,000 in competitive grant funding under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). In response to its November 2009 request for grant proposals (RFP), EPA received more than 1,000 proposed projects from state, tribal, and municipal agencies, non-governmental organizations and other eligible entities aimed at restoring and protecting this national treasure. GLRI grants will fund projects that address the most important Great Lakes priorities, including reducing toxic contaminants, restoring the Great Lakes Areas of Concern, protecting beaches and beachgoers, keeping out invasive species and reducing polluted land-based runoff.

    Finalists may submit final applications immediately so that grants may be issued and work can begin this summer. Successful projects will focus on achieving results in the five priority areas identified by a Federal interagency task force as vital for restoring the Great Lakes. Each preliminary proposal was subjected to a rigorous review and ranking by multiple reviewers from EPA or other federal agencies. In February 2009, President Obama proposed $475 million for the GLRI and Congress appropriated full funding in October. Grants are expected to be awarded later this summer. Michigan had 99 projects approved for final applications.

    Access a release and link to a list of projects by states and by program areas and additional information on the finalists and the RFP (click here).

Binational Public Engagement For GLWQA Amendments

May 27: The Governments of Canada and the United States (the Parties) recognize the importance of engaging the Great Lakes community as they proceed with the negotiations to amend the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). Therefore, to ensure broad and meaningful public engagement, the Parties are inviting public input on a number of substantive issues being addressed during the negotiations.   

 

    The parties have established a series of binational public webinars on the issues at various times on June 7, 8, and 9. The issues include: Governance including Place-Based Approaches and Science Coordination; Climate Change Impacts and Habitats and Species; Toxic Substances; Nutrients; and Ship-Source Pollution and Aquatic Invasive Species. They are interested in receiving input and comments on all issues and have established a separate website for comments on all issues.

 

    Access complete information with details on times and web links for each webinar and for submitting comments (click here). Access the GLNPO GLWQA website for additional information (click here).

New Website For International Upper Great Lakes Study

May 27: The International Upper Great Lakes Study has launched a completely redesigned website. According to an announcement, the key goal of the new design is to allow the public easier access to important information and Study documents. For example, the Study Board, Technical Working Groups and Public Interest Advisory Group all have new pages where the interested public can find information about membership, mandate, meeting minutes and progress reports. The latest information regarding the Study is available in a "Highlights" area, and the "Media" section archives helpful documents, including "On the Level" (the Study newsletter), news releases, and detailed factsheets about key aspects of the Study. The site also provides easy access to all documents related to the St. Clair River report that was published last year, including the final report, summary documents, supporting technical reports and public comments.

 

    Access the new website (click here). Access several WIMS blog postings on the Upper Great Lakes Study (click here).