Great Lakes Enhanced Weather & Marine Forecast

Jan 3: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it is now using enhanced weather and marine forecast models for the Great Lakes that will extend forecasts from 36 hours to 60 hours into the future to better serve commercial and recreational mariners, the shipping industry, emergency responders, water resource managers and the private weather industry.

    The Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (GLOFS) of NOAA's National Ocean Service, which predict currents, water level and water temperature, is now running on NOAA's National Weather Service's powerful and reliable super computers. The super computers run around the clock, offering a more reliable computing framework to generate Great Lakes forecast models and ultimately producing more timely forecasts. The National Weather Service provides customers with wind and wave forecasts in addition to weather forecasts for the five Great Lakes. Bringing the National Ocean Service's forecasts under the same computing system provides the opportunity for customers to have access to Great Lakes predictions from a single source.

    Access a release from NOAA (click here). Access GLOFS nowcasts and forecasts online (click here).

2011 Framework Strategy & USACE Interbasin Study

Dec 16: The Obama Administration today announced a series of new measures to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, building on the unprecedented proactive plan to prevent this invasive species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes that the Administration established in February 2010.

    The 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework adds 13 new initiatives to the comprehensive effort to combat Asian carp, including expanding eDNA testing capacity and developing cutting-edge biological controls and monitoring technology, among other measures. The original Framework, created in February 2010 and updated in May, established the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), consisting of state and municipal agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. EPA, and the U.S. Coast Guard to synchronize the response to Asian carp.

    The original Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework included 32 Federally-funded initiatives, all of which have been completed or are underway. The 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework now includes 45 short- and long-term initiatives in an aggressive, multi-tiered strategy to combat Asian carp. New projects in the 2011 Framework include:

• Validation of eDNA as an effective tool for monitoring and tracking Asian Carp through analysis and refinement of the eDNA processes to determine the number and distribution of positive detections of Asian carp.
• Development of eDNA genetic markers to more accurately and efficiently detect Asian carp concentrations.
• Expansion the USFWS lab in LaCrosse, WI to increase capacity of eDNA testing in all of the Great Lakes.
• Development of alternate trap and net designs for Asian carp.
• Development of rapid genetic-based methods to detect Asian carp to allow for faster results than eDNA.
• Evaluation of the affect of removing Asian carp food sources by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen from waste water treatment plant discharges into the CAWS/Upper Illinois Watershed.
• Assessment of the impact of steel hulled barges on the electric barriers.
• Evaluation of a permanent separation between the Wabash-Maumee watersheds.

    In a related matter, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in consultation with other Federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental organizations, announced more meetings and public hearing opportunities as part of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) pursuant to Section 3061(d) of Water Resources Development Act of 2007 [See WIMS 11/16/10]. GLMRIS is exploring options and technologies, collectively known as aquatic nuisance species (ANS) controls, that could be applied to prevent ANS transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways.

 

    As part of the GLMRIS a series of NEPA public scoping meetings will be held in both basins during January and February 2011, along with the opportunity to submit comments online through March 31, 2011 [extended from previous 2/28/11]. Persons wishing to speak at the meetings need to"Register to Speak" which also can be done online. Two meetings are scheduled for Michigan: Traverse City, January 27; and Ann Arbor, February 3. Specific venues will be announced soon.

 

    Access the ACRCC website (click here). Access a release on the new 2011 Framework (click here). Access the complete 2011 Framework (click here). Access the GLMRIS website for complete information on the study (click here). Access complete information on the NEPA scoping meeting including registration, commenting, contacts, available materials and more (click here).

MI & States Appeal Asian Carp PI Denial

MI & States Appeal Asian Carp PI Denial - Dec 16: Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced his office has filed a notice of appeal from the first preliminary court ruling in his lawsuit to stop the advance of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. Attorneys general from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania signed on to Michigan's notice, which was filed December 16, in Federal District Court in Chicago. The Great Lakes states are appealing a December 2, 2010 ruling that denied Michigan's motion for preliminary injunction (PI), which called for several immediate actions.  

    Cox said, "Although our suit continues to move forward, the urgent threat that Asian carp pose requires that we aggressively pursue this preliminary injunction. Until the federal government takes effective action, Michigan and our Great Lakes partners will take full advantage of every opportunity we have to ensure our livelihood is not destroyed by Asian carp."

    The notice of appeal filed today requests the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals review the district court ruling of December 2, 2010. In that ruling, Federal District Court Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. denied Michigan's motion for preliminary injunction, which called for the temporary closure of the O'Brien and Chicago Locks and blocking other pathways in the Chicago water system, except as needed to protect public health and safety, among other actions. Cox indicated that the need for the preliminary injunction, which would stop Asian carp as the rest of the suit is considered, was made clear by the recent capture of a live bighead carp beyond any current barriers. Meanwhile, the preliminary ruling did not halt consideration of the merits of the Great Lakes states' lawsuit. A status conference scheduled for January 7, 2011 will determine future proceedings at the district court level. 

 

    Attorneys general from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Ohio first joined Cox in filing his lawsuit on July 19, 2010, due to what he said was "the Army Corps' dismal record of inaction in confronting Asian carp." The lawsuit calls for the Corps to use all available efforts to block Asian carp passage in the waterways linked to Lake Michigan, subject to exceptions to prevent flooding, allow access for emergency responders and any other action necessary to prevent serious threats to public health and safety. 

 

    The Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act and the CARP Act, both sponsored by U.S Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), still await action by Congress [See WIMS 6/30/10]. The legislation mirrors Michigan's motion for preliminary injunction, calling for temporary closure of the locks to protect the Great Lakes and requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a study to determine the best way to permanently separate the Mississippi River Basin from Lake Michigan. Earlier this year, Cox petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and address the threat of Asian carp. The Supreme Court declined the take up the case but did not rule on the merits of the legal claims by Michigan and other Great Lakes states.

 

    Access a release from the Attorney General (click here).

President Signs Asian Carp Prevention & Control Act

Dec 14: President Obama signed into law a bill authored by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), that will aid in the fight against the further spread of Asian carp in the United States. The Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, S.1421, will add the bighead carp species of Asian carp to a list of injurious species that are prohibited from being imported or shipped in the United States under the Lacey Act [See WIMS 12/1/10]. The Senate approved the bill in November. Levin introduced the bipartisan bill in July 2009 with Senator George Voinovich (R-OH). Levin and Voinovich co-chair the Senate Great Lakes Task Force.

    Senator Levin said, "This law is an important step in the effort to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes," These fish pose a real, clear and growing threat to the Great Lakes and I will continue working to ensure tools like the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act and others will be available as we counter this threat. The devastating effects Asian carp could have on the Great Lakes are not fully known, and I want to make sure they are never realized."

    The Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act will list the bighead carp as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act, which was originally passed by Congress in 1900 and amended in 1981. Listing the bighead species of Asian carp under the Lacey Act will help prevent the intentional introduction of the species by prohibiting the interstate transportation or importation of live Asian carp without a permit. Senator Levin indicated in a release that the legislation will not interfere with existing state regulations of Asian carp, and it will allow states to issue permits to transport or purchase live Asian carp for scientific, medical or educational purposes. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already listed other species of Asian carp as injurious under the Lacey Act.

    Access a release from Senator Levin (click here). Access legislative details on S.1421 (click here). Access more information on the Lacey Act from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (click here).

Strategies For Conserving Lake Huron Biodiversity

Nov 29: A new report and strategic plan compiled by conservation experts in the United States and Canada and released by The Nature Conservancy indicates that the health of Lake Huron's biological diversity is in "fair" condition, but the long-term outlook could be a different story. The report, The Sweetwater Sea: Strategies for Conserving Lake Huron Biodiversity, assesses the current health of the lake's biological diversity and examines what current trends could mean for the future of the lake. According to the report, habitat degradation and loss to incompatible development present major stressors that may impact the lake's long-term health for people and nature.

    Dr. Patrick Doran, The Nature Conservancy's director of science for Michigan and the Great Lakes said, "Lake Huron is really on the brink of recovery or further degradation, depending on how you look at it and what actions may transpire in the next 10 to 20 years. This report stresses that now is the time to take action before it's too late." According to the report, the most critical threats to Lake Huron's biodiversity are: invasive species, incompatible development, climate change, dams and other barriers to water flow, and pollution from industrial and other sources. The experts ranked the scope and severity of the threats and matched strategies for abating those threats to priority areas.

    The top five areas of high concern, based on their concentration of biodiversity coupled with threats, are: northeast Michigan, Saginaw Bay, eastern Georgian Bay, southern Georgian Bay and the southeast shores of Lake Huron. The Lake Huron planning process followed a similar model that resulted in a strategic plan for Lake Ontario in 2009. That report then led to the prioritized action of public agencies and private organizations working to strengthen the health of Lake Ontario. The Nature Conservancy and partners will next develop biodiversity plans for Lake Erie and Lake Michigan through The Nature Conservancy's Great Lakes Project.

    Access a lengthy release from The Nature Conservancy (click here). Access a full copy of the report and an abridged, reader-friendly version (click here).

Great Lakes Mayors Support Industry "Green Marine" Program

Dec 10: Canadian and U.S. mayors from cities around the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River passed a resolution to support "Green Marine," an environmental program established by the marine shipping industry. Green Marine is a bi-national, voluntary program that aims to improve participants' environmental performance beyond regulatory compliance by introducing best practices, reduction targets and/or new technologies to improve their record in areas such as invasive species, air emissions and greenhouse gases, cargo residues, oily waters, conflicts of use within Ports and environmental leadership.
 
    The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a bi-national collaboration of mayors and local officials dedicated to the protection and restoration of the waterways, today endorsed the program and agreed to become an official supporter of Green Marine. David Bolduc, executive director of Green Marine, said the resolution would help foster greater communication between the marine shipping industry and cities and communities around the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region on its environmental improvements and would also aid in his efforts to recruit new participants.
 
    Bolduc said, "We have over 100 industry participants, partners and supporters and we are now working to extend that participation even deeper into the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system and beyond. This endorsement further enhances the credibility of the program. We have already had federal and provincial governments as supporters and we are pleased to add mayors from cities around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River to that list." Established in 2008, the Green Marine program has been nominated for a Sustainable Shipping Award and has received formal support from environmental groups like the World Wildlife Fund and Ducks Unlimited. 
 
    Access a release from American Great Lakes Ports Association (click here). Access the Green Marine website (click here). Access the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative website for more information (click here).

EPA & Partners Finish Ottawa River Legacy Act Cleanup

Dec 9: U.S. EPA announced that the Great Lakes Legacy Act project to clean up a 5½-mile stretch of the Ottawa River and Sibley Creek is finished. The completion of this project marks further progress in the cleanup of the Maumee River Area of Concern (AOC), a key priority under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The Agency and officials will make the official announcement at an event scheduled for Monday, December 13, at 11:30 AM.

 

    The project involved the removal of some 250,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs and PAHs (polychlorinated biphenyls and polyaromatic hydrocarbons). About 10,000 cubic yards were removed from Sibley Creek and another 240,000 cubic yards was removed from the Ottawa River in Toledo, OH. The sediment from the river will be hydraulically dredged and transported through a pipeline to the nearby Hoffman Road Landfill. Some "hot spots," with excessive levels of PCBs, about 7,000 cubic yards of sediment, were dredged and taken to a specially licensed facility for disposal.

 

    Access an announcement from EPA (click here). Access the project website (click here). Access more information on the GLRI (click here).