Great Lakes Commission News Briefs
A summary of issues, activities and events
at the Great Lakes Commission 		July 26, 2012

Register now for Sept. 10-11 GLC Annual Meeting in Cleveland
Registrations are now being accepted online for the Great Lakes Commission 2012 Annual Meeting to be held Sept. 10-11 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. This year’s meeting will again kick off the Great Lakes Week series of meetings and will feature an unprecedented joint session with the International Joint Commission (IJC). The joint session, to be held the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 10, will include a focused discussion on nutrient loading in the western Lake Erie basin. The full agenda and registration details can be accessed at www.glc.org/meeting.

Other organizations partnering with the GLC and IJC in Great Lakes Week events include the Healing Our Waters- Great Lakes Coalition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA’s annual Areas of Concern Conference and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. Further information on Great Lakes Week events can be found at www.glweek.org.

Contact: Christine Manninen, 734-971-9135, manninen@glc.org.


GLC convenes Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative
The establishment and rapid spread of invasive phragmites across the Great Lakes poses many challenges for habitat managers, private landowners, researchers and other entities. The Great Lakes Commission is partnering with the USGS - Great Lakes Science Center and Ducks Unlimited to develop an interactive website and webinar series to encourage technology transfer, information sharing and network building. The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative will engage the natural resource community, provide resources and tools to improve collaboration, and lead to more coordinated, efficient and strategic approaches to phragmites management and restoration.

Throughout the year, an ongoing webinar series will include topics such as:

  • Current research on phragmites control
  • Management techniques and case studies
  • Monitoring and assessment protocols
  • Regional management initiatives

For more information, see www.greatlakesphragmites.net. Contact: Heather Braun, 734-971-9135, hbraun@glc.org.



GLC task forces evaluate oil pipeline emergency preparedness and Phosphorus and nutrient input to the Great Lakes
In conjunction with its Annual Meeting, the GLC will be publishing a series of reports in coming weeks focused on issues of high interest to the region.

The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River region produces, refines and transports substantial quantities of oil and natural gas and produces, transports and disposes of many different types of hazardous materials. The production, use disposal and transport of these substances create the potential for spills to occur, some possibly having significant consequences. Several spills that occurred both inside and outside the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River region in 2010 has heightened the awareness of the importance of spill preparedness and response with public officials and the general public. The Emergency Preparedness reports summarize the preparedness and response framework in the U.S and Canada as well as state/provincial and local responsibilities for preparedness and response.

The second series of reports summarize the nutrient management programs and efforts of the states and provinces, and the problem of increased nutrient loadings to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin. The Commission’s involvement in nutrient management reflects its long-term interest in water quality management activities and the need for state and provincial governments’ understanding of this multijurisdictional issue.

These reports will be available in coming weeks on www.glc.org and discussed at the GLC’s Annual Meeting, Sept. 10-11 in Cleveland. Contact: Tom Crane, 734-971-9135, tcrane@glc.org.


Upcoming Events


Great Lakes Commission
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