|
![]() |
A
monthly summary of issues, activities and events
at the Great
Lakes Commission |
April 20, 2007 | |
![]()
- The
2007 Semiannual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission will be held
May 14-15 at the Radisson City Centre hotel in Indianapolis, Ind.
With the theme, "From Many Views, One Vision," the meeting will
feature the development of policy solutions to address issues
related to ballast water and invasive species, the status of
legislation to implement the recommendations of the Great Lakes
Regional Collaboration and updates on state adoption of the Great
Lakes Compact and Charter Annex Agreement, among other regional
concerns. The Commission's new Strategic Plan will also be
presented for approval. For more information or to register
online, see www.glc.org/meeting.
Contact: Tim Eder, teder@glc.org
- Lake
Michigan has been chosen as one of three pilot study sites for use
in the development of the National Water Quality Monitoring
Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries (commonly
known as the National Monitoring Network, or NMN). The pilot study
will be coordinated by the Great Lakes Commission, through the
Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council. Other partners
include the four Lake Michigan states, U.S. EPA and the Great
Lakes Observing System, among others. The initiative will test and
refine the NMN design, and may serve as a catalyst for enhanced
monitoring coordination throughout the Great Lakes basin. For more
information, see http://acwi.gov/monitoring/network or http://wi.water.usgs.gov/lmmcc. Contact: John
Hummer, jhummer@glc.org
|
![]()
Update: "Five Lakes - One Voice" regional
priorities
As Congress heads back to work following its
spring recess, here is where matters stand in regard to the "Five
Lakes - One Voice" near-term critical priorities for Great Lakes
restoration set forth on Great Lakes Day in Washington, March 7,
2007.
- Stopping Invasive Species: The House passed H.R.
1495, which would reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act,
on April 19. The bill, which includes authorization for the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal barrier, now goes to the
Senate. In addition, stand-alone legislation to complete and
maintain the AIS barrier has been introduced in both chambers
(H.R. 553 and S. 336). Also, legislation to reauthorize the
National Aquatic Invasive Species Act has been introduced in the
Senate (S.725).
- Protect Water Quality: The House passed H.R. 720,
the Water Quality Financing Act, on March 9. The bill, which would
reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, was subsequently
referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Great Lakes Restoration Legislation: The Great Lakes
Collaboration Implementation Act has been introduced in the House
(H.R. 1350) and Senate (S. 791). It is currently before the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Appropriations: Budget resolutions for FY2008 will
go to conference in the House and Senate the week of April 23;
subcommittees are expected to begin the appropriations process in
the House in early May and in the Senate in June. See www.glc.org/restore for
specific requests.
|
![]()
![]() More events |
![]()
TEACH Great
Lakes
The Education And Curriculum Homesite (http://teach.glin.net) is a
"virtual library" of curricula and related educational materials on
the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN). Geared for elementary
through high school students, it features mini-lessons on such Great
Lakes topics as the environment, history and culture, geography,
pollution, and careers and business. An educators' information
exchange corner provides curricular
materials and free sample lesson plans on topics such as water
pollution, invasive species, biodiversity, and much more. TEACH is
maintained by the Great Lakes Commission and funded through grants
from the U.S. EPA, Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Project AWARE
Foundation. Contact: Christine Manninen, manninen@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 | |
|