Controversial Provision On Ballast Water Removed From Funding Bill

Dec 5: Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, in a release said she "celebrated the defeat of flawed federal ballast water legislation that endangered the environmental and economic health of the Great Lakes." The House of Representatives agreed with the Senate amendments to HR2838, which will fund the U.S. Coast Guard for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014. When originally considered, Rep. Slaughter said the legislation included a controversial proposal to set a nationwide standard for the discharge of ballast water. Such a standard would have prevented states like New York from enforcing more stringent ballast water standards and effectively protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species. As a result, Slaughter voted against the original legislation and offered an amendment removing the language from the bill. Although her original amendment failed in the House, the controversial proposal was removed before the passage of the bill.

    Rep. Slaughter said, "In this time of Congressional gridlock, I was pleased to work with my colleagues across the aisle to protect the Great Lakes. Previously proposed standards would have prevented New York and other states from effectively fighting invasive species like Asian Carp, which cost taxpayers billions. The Great Lakes provide 20% of the world's fresh water and directly support over 1.5 million jobs, generating $62 billion in wages every year. For those of us who live on its shores, we must be able to set effective standards to protect this valuable economic and natural treasure."

    In November 2011, Slaughter joined a bipartisan coalition and wrote to Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to urge the implementation of alternative standards that would provide states like New York flexibility to protect their waters. The Coast Guard's final rule was published on March 23, 2012 in the Federal Register, and became effective 90 days after publication on June 21, 2012. The bill will now return to the Senate, where it is expected to be cleared for enactment.

    Access a release from Rep. Slaughter and link to her letter and additional information (click here). Access legislative details for H.R.2838 (click here).

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Federal Judge Dismisses States' Asian Carp Lawsuit

Dec 3: U.S. District Court Judge, John Joseph "Jay" Tharp, Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed the case (Case No. 10cv4457) filed by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Chicago's Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in their attempt to force the Army Corps of Engineers to quickly develop and implement plans to permanently separate the Great Lakes from Asian carp-infested Illinois waterways [See WIMS 10/10/12].

 

    According to a report in Bloomber news, the Judge said in a 46-page decision, "It is not the province of the courts to order parties to take action that would directly contravene statutory mandates and prohibitions." A report in the Detroit Free Press indicated that the Judge said,  he couldn't order the agencies to do what the states want because Federal law requires the Corps to keep shipping channels open between Lake Michigan and one of the Chicago waterways -- the Des Plaines River -- and prohibits constructing dams in any navigable waterway without Congress' consent.

 

    Attorney General Schuette did not issue a release on the latest decision, but a spokesperson indicated that they were disappointed with the decision and reviewing the case for further action.

 

    Access the Bloomberg news report (click here). Access the Detroit Free Press report (click here). Access more information on the AG's efforts on the Asian Carp issue (click here).

 

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Ohio Lake Erie Commission Issues Two RFPs

Dec 4: The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is currently soliciting grant proposals for the Lake Erie Protection Fund for two projects: "Internal Loading as a Source of Phosphorus in Lake Erie" and "Inventory of Water Conservation Measures by Industry Sector." Please see the attached RFPs for project details. Each grant will provide up to $30,000, with a 25% match requirement ($7,500). Proposals are due February 1, 2013. Projects must assist with the implementation of the Lake Erie Protection and Restoration Plan 2008.

    The role of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission is to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, to protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and to promote economic development of the region by ensuring the coordination of policies and programs of state government pertaining to water quality, toxic substances, and coastal resource management. The Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is administered by the Commission, focuses on projects that improve environmental and economic management and development decisions. The Fund is supported by the voluntary contributions of Ohioans who purchase the Erie...Our Great Lake license plate, featuring the Marblehead lighthouse.

 

    Access a posted announcement from the Commission (click here). Access the Commission's website for application materials and to obtain more information about the Lake Erie Protection Fund (click here).

 

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NOAA Tool Offers Custom Views Of Great Lakes Water Level Data

Dec 3: The new NOAA Great Lakes Water Level Dashboard, to be presented this week at the American Geophysical Union annual fall meeting, offers interactive displays of any combination of historical, current and projected water levels for all of the North American Great Lakes. Environmental researchers, educators and students, and Great Lakes region residents are among those who can use this online tool to quickly access desired slices of water level data.

    The dashboard is designed to show the ups and downs of the world's largest freshwater system. It draws from both experimental and operational data sets and forecasts from a variety of regional sources. Among its other benefits, the dashboard allows users to gain a perspective on the relative magnitude of seasonal, year-to-year and decade-to-decade water level changes.

    Marie Colton, Ph.D., NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) director said, "The Great Lakes water levels fluctuate more year-to-year than the water levels of other major coasts in the United States. The dashboard is expected to help resource managers communicate to the public about how water management strategies will change in an uncertain climate future. GLERL and the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research at the University of Michigan, both located in Ann Arbor, MI, developed the new tool with funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), administered by the U.S. EPA.

The Great Lakes dashboard can help users gain insight into the relationship between recent water level dynamics and long-term forecasts, as well as the relationship between climate trends and climate variability in the Great Lakes region. The severe drop in water levels (particularly for lakes Erie, Michigan and Huron) in the late 1990s, the current low levels on lakes Michigan and Huron, long-term declines in ice cover, and recent shifts in the seasonal water budget and water level dynamics of some of the lakes, are just a few examples.

Through its interactive framework, the dashboard allows users to investigate historical trends, and to use them as a reference point for evaluating forecasts of future water level conditions. Researchers plan to expand the dashboard by adding in other agency water level forecasts (including the operational forecasts developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environment Canada) and water budget data such as precipitation, evaporation, and runoff. The NOAA Great Lakes Operational Forecasting System provides the official daily and hourly water level fluctuations for those who need shorter time-scale data. GLERL also offers its own Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System which displays air temperature, cloud cover, wind and wave data.

    Access a release from NOAA with links to related information (click here). Access the water level dashboard (click here).

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Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Toolkit

Nov 30: Freshwater Future and EcoAdapt, have partnered to develop the Great Lakes Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit, with funding support from the Kresge Foundation. The toolkit includes:  A primer on climate change and adaptation;  Four case studies on how community groups are incorporating climate change into their work; Communications guidance; Fact sheets on specific Great Lakes climate impacts;  Approaches to addressing climate change with community leaders; and  A guide to assist with vulnerability assessments.

    Freshwater Future Executive Director Jill Ryan said, "The Great Lakes region is already seeing a number of impacts from climate change, including warmer air and water temperatures, less ice cover, changes in snowfall and rainfall, and extreme storm events like we experienced in many areas of the region this past summer. The toolkit provides a resource to help community groups develop a climate informed perspective on their own work and some approaches to help them bring that knowledge to issues their towns and cities may be addressing." Lara Hansen, Executive Director of EcoAdapt said, "Climate change is everybody's problem. By putting tools into the hands of groups working on a wide range of issues, we can engage many more people in preparing our communities to meet the challenges of climate change."

    The toolkit is one component of Freshwater Future's Great Lakes Community Climate Program, which includes workshops to train community groups how to consider climate change impacts in their work and a grants program to assist with implementation of on-the-ground projects.

    Access a posted announcement from Freshwater Future (click here). Access the Freshwater Future website (click here). Access the toolkit (click here).

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Funding For AOC Habitat Restoration Partnership Projects

Nov 30: NOAA's Restoration Center has released a Federal funding opportunity (FFO) for habitat restoration in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). The closing date is January 15, 2013. Through the solicitation, NOAA seeks to openly compete funding available for multi-year Great Lakes Regional Habitat Restoration Partnerships. Partnerships will result in implementation of a wide-range of individual habitat restoration projects focused in U.S. AOCs with funds provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as anticipated in the President's FY2013 Budget.

    NOAA anticipates up to $10 million may be available to establish habitat restoration Partnerships in 2013, with annual funding anticipated to maintain them for up to three years. Typical Partnership awards are expected to range from $500,000 to $5,000,000 per year. Funding will support both engineering and design projects and on the ground implementation projects. NOAA notes that, "This is NOT a request for individual habitat restoration project proposals. A separate project-based funding opportunity will be released in January 2013."

 

    Access a posted announcement with links to the FFO, AOC information and contacts (click here).

 

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HOW Coalition Receives $2.5 Million Continuation Grant

Nov 29: Grand Rapids philanthropist Peter Wege and The Wege Foundation announced that they will continue to support the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes (HOW) Coalition for five more years through a $2.5 million grant. Lynn McClure, Midwest director for the National Parks Conservation Association, and a co-chair of the Coalition said, "We are extremely grateful for the generous support from Mr. Wege and The Wege Foundation. Their leadership has been instrumental in elevating the profile of the Great Lakes nationally, which has led to a federal commitment to improve the health of the lakes for the millions of people who live along the shores and visit each year."

    Former Steelcase CEO Peter Wege and his namesake foundation launched the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition in 2004 with a 5-year, $5 million grant. They have continued to be core supporters of the Coalition, which also receives funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, The Joyce Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. Ellen Satterlee, CEO of The Wege Foundation said, "Trustees are impressed by the collaborative support of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and related Great Lakes work from so many other foundations in the region. Together, we're making a real difference for our Great Lakes and we at The Wege Foundation are proud and honored to work with the Coalition on this important cause."

    According to a release from HOW, the Coalition and its 120 member organizations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have been leaders in securing a robust Great Lakes restoration plan and accompanying federal funding. Over the past three years, President Obama and the U.S. Congress have infused more than $1 billion into restoration programs through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up toxic pollution, reduce runoff from cities and farms, restore habitat and wetlands and fight invasive species like the Asian carp.

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access the HOW coalition website for more information (click here).

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