Resolution: A Volunteer Monitoring Network for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence System
Adopted on October 16, 2000

Whereas, effective water resources management is dependant on the availability of accurate and timely watershed monitoring data; and

Whereas, numerous federal, state, local and First Nations/tribal governments are engaged in monitoring activities using various sampling methodologies and information management systems; and

Whereas, there currently is no coordinated monitoring and data management program on a basinwide level that could reduce costs, avoid duplication of work, exchange information, and support lakewide management efforts; and

Whereas, the dissemination and interpretation of monitoring information and data to the public is limited and incomplete; and

Whereas, substantial monitoring efforts are conducted by volunteer monitoring programs, yet this information is underutilized by policy makers and resource managers; and

Whereas, with proper training and technical assistance, volunteer monitoring programs can support agency decision making at little or no cost and substantially expand the overall monitoring network; and

Whereas, ecosystem indicators have been developed to focus the collection and assessment of monitoring information around core values in the Great Lakes basin through programs such as the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) and Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs); and

Whereas, the National Water Quality Monitoring Council and the Clean Water Action Plan support monitoring coordination initiatives at state and regional levels to achieve comparable and scientifically defensible information, interpretations, and evaluations of water quality conditions to support informed decisionmaking; and

Whereas, the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council has been established to enhance coordination, communication and data management among agencies and organizations that conduct or benefit from monitoring efforts in the Lake Michigan basin in the interest of supporting the Lake Michigan LaMP; and

Whereas, the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council has called for formation of a volunteer monitoring network for Lake Michigan to enhance volunteer monitoring efforts and better use the information they collect to support decision making at all levels of government.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission endorses and shall promote efforts to enhance and coordinate monitoring efforts in the Great Lakes basin and calls upon its member states, provinces and Observer agencies to support and participate in such efforts; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission shall collaborate with the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council and other parties to establish a volunteer monitoring network for Lake Michigan as a pilot effort that can eventually be expanded to the other Great Lakes; and

Therefore, Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls for the convening of a binational conference to assess ecosystem monitoring in the Great Lakes Basin, enhance and coordinate existing programs, evaluate monitoring information needed to support SOLEC indicators, and identify gaps and unmet needs in regional monitoring efforts.

Adopted by the unanimous action of the eight member states of the Great Lakes Commission at the 2000 Annual Meeting, Hamilton, Ontario, October 16, 2000.