GLIN==> Project management team announced for water mgmt. decision support system

[Courtney Shosh <cshosh@glc.org>]

GREAT LAKES COMMISSION MEDIA ADVISORY

For immediate release
August 22, 2000

Contact:  Michael J. Donahue
Phone:  734-665-9135
Fax:  734-665-4370
E-mail:  mdonahue@glc.org

Great Lakes Commission announces project management team
Project will yield water management decision support system

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Great Lakes Commission has received a $745,000 grant 
for the first phase of developing a Water Resources Management Decision 
Support System for the Great Lakes.  Supported by the Great Lakes 
Protection Fund, the two-year project will lay the framework for the data, 
information and process required to ensure timely and well-informed public 
policy decisions concerning the use and management of surface and 
groundwater resources.   In so doing, it will support ongoing efforts of 
the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence governors and premiers to develop and 
implement a management regime to address water withdrawal, consumptive use, 
diversion and related issues.

A multi-agency, multidisciplinary team of U.S. and Canadian experts has 
been assembled by the Commission and will direct its efforts in three 
primary areas:
.	Status Assessment: Data and information concerning distribution, 
abundance, interaction and potential threats will be assembled for surface 
and groundwater resources.
.	Inventory of Water Withdrawal and Use: The latest available data will be 
assessed and analyzed as it relates to withdrawals, in-stream uses, 
diversion and consumptive use.  It will be characterized by jurisdiction, 
lake basin and usage category.
.	Analysis of Ecological Impacts: Review of the scientific literature, 
complemented by experts' workshops, will yield a new understanding of the 
cumulative impacts of water use and withdrawal and how these impacts might 
be accommodated in a decision support system.

The initiative is application-oriented and products will include a Great 
Lakes water use web site, updated water use inventories, and information as 
to how policymakers can include ecological evaluations as a management 
regime is designed and implemented.

"The Great Lakes Commission welcomes the opportunity to lend its expertise 
to an issue of overriding concern to the states and provinces of the Great 
Lakes-St. Lawrence region," stated Commission Chair Irene Brooks.   "Data, 
information and analysis must provide the foundation for any water 
management regime."

The 17-member project management team is comprised of state, provincial, 
federal and regional experts in technical and policy aspects of water 
quantity management.  (These individuals are listed below.)  The team will 
hold its initial meeting in late September, initiating an aggressive and 
ambitious two-year effort.  Dr. Michael J. Donahue and Tom Crane of the 
Great Lakes Commission will serve as project co-directors.  Tom Rayburn, 
also of the Great Lakes Commission, will serve as project manager.  A 
project advisory committee drawn from the larger Great Lakes-St. Lawrence 
community will support project team and staff efforts.

STATE/PROVINCIAL TEAM MEMBERS
.	Illinois: Daniel Injerd, Chief, Lake Michigan Management Section, Office 
of Water Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; 312-793-3123
.	Indiana: Jim Hebenstreit, Assistant Director, Division of Water, Indiana 
Department of Natural Resources; 317-232-4163
.	Michigan: Keith Harrison, Director, Office of Special Environmental 
Projects, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; 517-335-3666
.	Minnesota: Kent Lokkesmoe, Director, Division of Waters, Minnesota 
Department of Natural Resources; 651-296-4810
.	New York: Michael Holt, Environmental Engineer II, Bureau of Water 
Permits, New York State Department of Environment Conservation; 
518-457-9514
.	Ohio: Richard Bartz, Assistant Chief, Division of Water, Ohio Department 
of Natural Resources; 614-265-6730
.	Ontario: David de Launay, Director, Lands and Waters Branch, Ministry of 
Natural Resources; 705-755-1620
.	Pennsylvania: Tom Denslinger, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, Water Use 
Planning Division; 717-772-4048
.	Quebec: Andre Carpentier, Environment et Faune Quebec, Direction de 
l'hydraulique; 418-521-3825x7108
.	Wisconsin: Bruce Baker, Director, Division of Water, Wisconsin Department 
of Natural Resources; 608-266-1902

FEDERAL TEAM MEMBERS (U.S. and Canadian)
.	Environment Canada: Doug Cuthbert, Chief, Conservation and Management 
Branch, Canada Centre for Inland Waters; 905-336-4713
.	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Dr. Frank Quinn, Senior 
Research Hydrologist, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; 
734-741-2255
.	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Roger Gauthier, Supervisory Hydrologist, 
Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch, Detroit District; 313-226-3054
.	U.S. Geological Survey: Dr. John Gannon, Science Coordinator, Supervisory 
Fishery Research Biologist, Biological Resources Division; 734-214-7237
.	U.S. Geological Survey: James Nicholas, Michigan District Chief, Water 
Resources Division;  517-886-8906

REGIONAL TEAM MEMBERS
.	Council of Great Lakes Governors: Jeffrey Edstrom, Senior Policy 
Director; 312-407-0177
.	Great Lakes Commission: Dr. Michael J. Donahue, Executive Director; 
734-665-9135

###

The Great Lakes Commission is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency 
created by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong 
economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great 
Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents.  The Commission consists of 
state legislators, agency officials and governors' appointees from its 
eight member states.  Associate membership for Ontario and Quebec was 
established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership."  The 
Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian 
federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other 
regional interests.  The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, 
Michigan
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