Resource Management program

Learn more about the Commission's 2006 Projects (PDF, 667k)

Our goal
To promote the informed use, management and protection of the water, land, air and natural resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system.

What we do
The Resource Management Program contributes to the sustainable use and conservation of the region’s natural resources through multiple projects and regional services. Working with scores of project partners throughout the public and private sectors, program efforts are directed at identifying regional priorities, developing policy, conducting and coordinating research, and sharing information on a broad range of resource management and protection initiatives.

• Aquatic Invasive Species
  The Great Lakes Commission provides operational support for the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, established by Congress to advance regional coordination on aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control. Commission staff worked closely with the Panel in developing an outreach strategy document; a full-color educational brochure for release in 2006; a priority list of invasive species for further research; and a set of draft guidelines to formalize Panel operations. In addition, Commission staff are collaborating with state Sea Grant programs to assist Great Lakes states in developing and implementing AIS management plans through a series of workshops.
• Soil Erosion and Sediment Control The Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control works to benefit water quality by reducing soil erosion and sedimentation through grants, information and education efforts, and providing professional assistance to state and local partners. Now in its 16th year, the program awarded a total of 39 new grants in 2005, totaling almost $2.2 million, for local sediment and erosion control projects and education programs. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Other activities included publication of the Keeping It On the Land newsletter and initiating the “Building Awareness” campaign using a variety of media tools to raise public awareness of the damages caused by erosion and sedimentation.

• “ANS Update:” Produce newsletter covering the activities of the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS), state and federal programmatic updates, and emerging regional ANS issues.
• “Great Lakes Aquatic Invasions” Brochure: Update the 1998 Biological Invasions brochure, with guidance from the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, for distribution throughout the basin and nationally.
• Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control: Administer federally funded program to benefit water quality by reducing soil erosion and sedimentation through grants, information and education, and professional assistance to state and local partners.
• Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species: Provide organizational and logistical support for panel of experts established by Congress to advance regional efforts to prevent and control aquatic invasive species.
• Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program: Support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to develop science-based predictive tools and sediment transport models designed to enable state and local resource agencies to quantify the effects of land use and development activities upon soil erosion and sedimentation.
• State AIS Management Plan Workshops: Collaborate with state Sea Grant programs to assist the states in advancing the development and implementation of state AIS management plans.