June conferences focus on Great Lakes protection, restoration

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- June is going to be a big month for the Great Lakes, with a trio of major conferences devoted to their protection and restoration.

Among the issues to be addressed: a bigger role for Great Lakes-St. Lawrence mayors and communities in shaping regional policy, the pursuit of an environmentally and economically sustainable future for the lakes, and mending the long-suffering “heart” of the Great Lakes.

First up is the 17th Annual Conference of the International Association of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors, June 16-18 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Mayors have a critical role to play in shaping regional policy and this meeting provides them with a forum to identify common challenges and opportunities in protecting, promoting and developing the natural resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system.

Co-hosts will be Tim Rigby, mayor of St. Catharines, and Richard Daley, mayor of Chicago, the 2004 host city. Topics to be addressed include environmental and restoration opportunities, mayoral lobbying initiatives, waterfront restoration and maritime issues. Dr. David Suzuki, the noted scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, will give the keynote address.

Support services are provided by the Great Lakes Commission. For more information, including links to online registration, visit www.glc.org/mayors Contact: Steve Thorp, sthorp@glc.org

Next up is Lake St. Clair: Restoring the Heart of the Great Lakes, June 17-18 in Port Huron, Mich. Lake St. Clair has gained this nickname for its valentine shape, its location and its importance to the larger the Great Lakes system.

While only a small part of the Great Lakes system, Lake St. Clair nonetheless faces some very big problems, including toxic contamination, nonpoint pollution from agricultural and urban runoff, invasive species, loss of shoreline habitat and wetlands, and more. This conference will convene stakeholders from the Lake St. Clair community to review, assess and advance restoration and protection efforts for the lake and its watershed.

Conference outcomes will help inform the development of a congressionally-mandated comprehensive management plan being prepared for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River. Registration and other information is available at www.glc.org/stclair/heart

This conference is coordinated by the Great Lakes Commission with support from the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency. Contact: Matt Doss, mdoss@glc.org

Finally, a comprehensive look at the needs of the entire Great Lakes system will be offered at Moving Toward a Sustainable Great Lakes, June 25-26 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. This conference will bring together a wide range of stakeholders for an open dialogue on the integration of environmental, social, and economic issues in securing a sustainable future for the Great Lakes.

Issues to be addressed include sustainability as a concept, Great Lakes restoration planning, maritime transportation, waterfront redevelopment, water quality and quantity, recreational issues, and institutional, legal and scientifi c matters. The meeting is co-sponsored by the Great Lakes Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and well over a dozen other U.S. and Canadian sponsors.

Additional information and online registration are available at: www.glc.org/sustainable Contact: Marquietta Davis, davisma@tetratech-ffx.com

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Samuel W. Speck (Ohio), is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of state legislators, agency officials, and governors' appointees from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.