Emerging Great Lakes Threats and Stressors: the Need for an Early Warning System

Session: 23. - The IJC's Science Advisory Board Review of Current Priorities and Projects

Lucinda Johnson, University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected]
Michael Twiss, Clarkson University, Dept. of Biology & Great Rivers Center, [email protected]
Matthew Child, International Joint Commission, [email protected]
Michael Donahue, AECOM, [email protected]
Lizhu Wang, International Joint Commission, [email protected]
Theodore Slawecki, LimnoTech, [email protected]

Abstract

For decades, governments have devoted significant resources to correct or remediate damage to the Great Lakes ecosystem from newly introduced chemicals, invasive species, and sharp increases in runoff of bioavailable phosphorus. These unanticipated issues highlight three problems:  managers and regulators are often unable to accurately anticipate some emerging threats; no agency is given an explicit charge of anticipating, reviewing, analyzing and alerting governments to the possible impacts of the threats to the Great Lakes; and, while some problems are anticipated, agencies may determine that the risk does not warrant preventive action.  Thus, there is an urgent need to coordinate and enhance the science in anticipation and prevention of potential threats… in essence, to develop an Early Warning System for threats to the Great Lakes (GLEWS).  The SAB has commissioned a study “identifying emerging ecosystem issues and recommending strategies and approaches for preventing and resolving complex challenges facing the Great Lakes.”  Led by AECOM and LimnoTech, this study will identify emerging  threats and stressors, and  recommend the structural and operational components of a GLEWS.  This is being accomplished through an examination of current "early warning" mechanisms, a gap analysis, a literature search, interviews with Subject Matter Experts, a workshop, and case study.

1. Keyword
policy making

2. Keyword
environmental policy

3. Keyword
lake management

4. Additional Keyword
governance

5. Additional Keyword
Early Warning

6. Additional Keyword
Pollution prevention