Great Lakes Water Levels: Precious Resource
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Transcript of Great Lakes Water Levels: Precious Resource
Jennifer Read Member of International Joint Commission
Adaptive Management Task Team
University of Michigan Water Center and Great Lakes Observing System
IPPSR Public Policy Forum Wednesday, April 17, 2013
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• State of our knowledge about Great Lakes levels
• Overview of decision making challenges
• Overview of proposed way forward: an adaptive management approach
• Define adaptive management
• Proposed process and approach
• Conclusion
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Overview
Chart Datum
The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River System is Dynamic Lakes Michigan-Huron Water Levels (IGLD 1985)
Water Level Decision Making is Complex
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Shoreline development in the hazard zone
Situation of marinas and boat launches
Design of shore protection
Infrastructure decisions
Encroachment
Big boats (more dredging)
Ecosystem implications
Additional Challenges
Big storms
Glacial isostatic adjustment
Changing Ice conditions
Natural changes in conveyance
Erosion and deposition
Changes in demographics
Decisions by neighbors
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Bing Maps
Two Ways to Address Extremes
1. Manage water levels and flows
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2. Manage response to the impacts of water levels and flows
Upper St. Lawrence R. (existing control point)
St. Marys R. (existing control point)
Regulation of Lake Superior Outflows at Sault Ste. Marie on St. Marys River Regulation of Lake Ontario
outflows At Moses-Saunders Dam on the St. Lawrence River
Two Regulation Plans
No one organization or jurisdiction is fully responsible for managing impacts of water levels
Much fragmentation, duplication and overlap
Limited effort to coordinate approaches and share successful approaches
Little focus on long-term implications of climate extremes and planning for uncertain future
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Response to Water Level Impacts
Institutional
Arrangements
Adaptive Management
Collaboration
Plan Act
Monitor
Evaluate Learn
Adjust
Continuous, iterative, systematic process Plan, Act, Monitor conditions, Evaluate, Learn (Review) and Adjust the plan if needed
Working together to solve problems
MI Sea Grant
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New approach to addressing water level issues
Intensively collaborative in nature
Coordinate and share critical information, develop adaptive strategies, measure success and adapt accordingly
Goal is to support decision making aimed at reducing the impacts associated with extreme water levels
Components of the Plan
1. Hydroclimate Monitoring and Modeling
2. Performance Indicators and Risk Assessment
3. Plan Evaluation and Decision Tools
4. Information Management and Distribution
5. Outreach and Engagement
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A more efficient and effective means to inform decisions aimed at reducing the impacts to communities, the economy and the environment from extreme lake levels by:
Allowing for on-going evaluation and update of lake regulation plans
Providing a forum for collaboration across jurisdictions, among agencies and stakeholders
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GLSLR Levels
Advisory Board
St. Lawrence Board
Superior Board
AM Committee (formal)
Niagara Board
Adaptive Management Pilots (at local and regional scales)
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• AM Committee • Levels Advisory Board • Networks • AM Pilots
How was the plan developed? Canada U.S.
Wendy Leger, Canadian Co-Chair Environment Canada
Deborah Lee, U.S. Co-Chair US Army Corps of Engineers
Jonathan Staples, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (tentative)
Don Zelazny, New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Patricia Clavet, Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks
Jen Read, University of Michigan Water Center and Great Lakes Observing System
Dick Hibma, Conservation Ontario Bill Werick, Great Lakes Observing System
Canadian Secretary U.S. Secretary
Sara Eddy, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Drew Gronewold, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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All members of the Task Team serve in their professional capacity and not as representatives of their agencies or employers.