Archive: Great Lakes Focus Area
Last updated: May 21, 2001
Background
The Great Lakes are the largest system of surface freshwater on the Earth, containing roughly 20 percent of the world's freshwater supply (5,500 cubic miles). The Great Lakes basin is home to more than one tenth of the U.S. population and one quarter of the Canadian population (a total of over 33 million people). In the U. S., the Great Lakes are considered a fourth seacoast, and the Great Lakes region is a dominant factor in both the Canadian and U.S. industrial economy. Economic activity exceeds $200 billion per year.
The Great Lakes provide recreational boating and swimming for millions of people. National forests, national and state parks, wildlife preserves, and other environmental sites cover over 7 million acres of the Great Lakes basin.
The Great Lakes ecosystem contains many diverse elements, including major urban, suburban, industrial, and agricultural areas, deciduous and northern forests, dunes, wetlands, globally rare plant and animal species, and critical habitats.
Activities
Participating in the development of a renewed five- year strategy and reinvigorate agencies' commitment to carrying out identified goals and strategic priorities. Implementing an integrated approach for fish community objectives of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Developing uniform monitoring protocols and an indicator program to monitor status and trends. Sharing facilities and vessels among agencies and organizations to provide greater cost efficiency. Increasing data sharing, as well as submission of joint proposals for research/ restoration projects.
On-The-Ground Projects
Coastal Wetlands Monitoring Project
Integrate Spatial and Modeling Capabilities — such as collaboration on NASA regional earth science application center (remote sensing and modeling)
Great Lakes Information Network
Partners
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Highway Administration, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Parks Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and USDA Farm Services Agency.
For More Information
Jan Miller, Focus Area Team Co-Leader
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
312/353-6354
Vicki Thomas, Focus Area Team Co-Leader
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
312/886-6942