|
Resending the March 19 edition.
 |
A
monthly summary of issues, activities and events
at the Great
Lakes Commission |
March 19, 2007 | |
- A
ballast water and invasive species dialogue, convened by the
Great Lakes Commission, took place among representatives of the
maritime industry, the Great Lakes states, and conservation groups
on Feb. 23. The goal of the initiative is to build consensus
around policy solutions for preventing the introduction and spread
of invasive species via ballast water discharges. Meeting
summary
- Great Lakes
Aquatic Invasions, a 14-page booklet designed to raise
awareness of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the means by which
they spread, has been released by the Great Lakes Commission. An
update of the Commission's 1996 Biological Invasions brochure, the
new publication's primary target audience is state and federal
legislators and assorted user groups. Topics covered include
ecosystem and economic impacts, vectors of AIS introduction and
spread, global movement of species, future directions of AIS
management, and model strategies for prevention and control. See
www.glc.org/ans/aquatic-invasions
|
- Great Lakes Day in Washington attracts record
crowds
This year's Great Lakes policy forum was a two-day
event, held March 6-7 in and around the U.S. Capitol complex. An
unprecedented coalition of Great Lakes organizations, representing
the Great Lakes states, the cities, tribal fisheries interests and
conservation organizations under the Healing Our Waters-Great
Lakes Coalition, joined together in submitting to Congress a
short list of the region's most urgent needs. Stopping
invasive species is the number one priority. In addition, the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a
hearing on the impact of invasive species on the Great Lakes, at
which Commissioner Ken DeBeaussaert, chair of the Michigan
Delegation, testified on the need for uniform federal ballast
water legislation. For a slideshow of the week's events and
related links, see www.glc.org/greatlakesday/slideshow07
- Great Lakes Commission releases FY2008 legislative
priorities
The Great Lakes Commission, acting on behalf of
its eight Member states, is calling upon Congress to take
immediate action to protect the lakes against the threat of
invasive species. Comprehensive legislation to curb the
introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species is the number
one priority on the Commission's annual list of recommendations to
Congress, released Feb. 28. The full list of the Commission's
FY2008 legislative priorities is available at www.glc.org/restore
- Great Lakes restoration legislation introduced
In conjunction with Great Lakes Day events, a bipartisan
group of Great Lakes lawmakers introduced the Great Lakes
Collaboration Implementation Act of 2007 (H.R.1350) on March 6.
The measure is a comprehensive bill to stop sewage contamination,
block invasive species and restore wetlands, three of the top
priorities on the short list of regional priorities mentioned
above. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers
(R-Mich.) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) in the House. A companion
bill (S.791) was introduced in the Senate on March 7 by Sens. Carl
Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio). |
- Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) Education/Outreach
Symposium
April 10-11 2007
Haggerty Center
Traverse City,
Mich.
- GLOS
Annual Meeting
April 12-13, 2007
Crowne Plaza
Niagara
Falls, N.Y.
- Invasive Species Meetings
Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic
Nuisance Species, ANS National Task Force, Aquatic Invasive
Species State Management Plan Regional Summit
May 8-11,
2007
Tom Ridge Center
Erie, Pa.
- 2007 Semiannual Meeting of the
Great Lakes Commission
May 14-16, 2007
Radisson Hotel
City Centre
Indianapolis, Ind.
 More events |
Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
Consortium
The Great Lakes Commission, with funding from
the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, convened the Great
Lakes Coastal Wetlands Consortium to expand monitoring and reporting
capabilities for Great Lakes coastal wetlands under the U.S.-Canada
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Consisting of U.S. and Canadian
science and policy experts, the Consortium is working with the
University of Minnesota-Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute
and other partners to develop a set of indicators and metrics to
assess the overall status and trends of Great Lakes coastal
wetlands. An inventory and classification system were developed in
2004. Together, these will form the basis of a long-term monitoring
plan, due to be released in fall 2007. Contact: John Hummer, jhummer@glc.org. |
Great Lakes Commission
Eisenhower Corporate Park
2805
S. Industrial Hwy, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI
48104-6791
734-971-9135
www.glc.org
A News Briefs archive
can be found at www.glc.org/email/archive | |
|