Great Lakes

	Great Lakes Links
\| General \| Ag/Soils \| Air \| Biodiversity \| Chemicals \| Contaminated Sediments \| \| Economy and Environment \| Fish \| Forestry \| GIS \| Nonindigenous Species \| Physical \| \| Water \| Wetlands \| Social/Legal \| Research Centers \| Expertise \|

General Software and Databases

Great Lakes Information Network - A partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the binational Great Lakes region of North America.

Ag/Soils

State Natural Resource Conservation Service/National Resources Inventory Programs:

Air

Great Lakes Regional Air Toxics Emissions Inventory - This inventory will assist in the successful implementation of key provisions of the Great Lakes Toxic Substances Control Agreement, signed by the Great Lakes governors in 1986. In addition, this work is consistent with the state activities for the implementation of the Urban Area Source Program required under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the assessment of atmospheric deposition to the Great Lakes under the efforts of U.S. EPA's Great Waters Program.
Michigan Air Pollution Reporting System - Provides needed information for estimating emissions of air contaminants or pollutants from commercial, industrial, and governmental sources.

Biodiversity

Species of Illinois Database - From the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Wisconsin Cooperative Park Studies Unit - Provides an important link between one of the Nation's leading research universities and the U.S. Department of the Interior, State conservation agencies, and private organizations responsible for managing lands which, in many cases, are the last refuge for rare and valuable plants, animals, and ecosystems. The WICPSU helps these organizations pool their capabilities in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of scientific information about the Nation's biological resources.
Canadian Biodiversity Information Network - The purpose of this new site is to provide efficient access to all types of information and data related to global efforts to conserve, protect, and sustainably use the living world around us. This site is the official Canadian component of the Clearing-house Mechanism, a global network of information sources co-operating through agreements made under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Here you will find out about Canadian environmental activities and agreements, technologies, data, aid programmes, web sites, upcoming events, reference materials, expertise, and much more.

Chemicals/Toxics

The Effects of Great Lakes Contaminants on Human Health (Report to Congress) - In accordance with the responsibilities under the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990, the USEPA transferred funds to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), which has developed a research program to address human health effects from exposure to contaminants in the Great Lakes. This report reflects comments made by ATSDR, USEPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state agencies as well as those made by the principal researchers whose work is contained within the report.
Green Bay Mass Balance Data - The Study, conducted in 1989-90 was a pilot of the technique of mass balance analysis in understanding the sources and effects of toxic pollutants in the Great Lakes' food chain. The study focused on four representative chemicals or chemical classes: PCBs, dieldrin, cadmium, and lead.
Lake Michigan Mass Balance Project - Began in 1994 and will be concluded in 1999. Four major chemicals are being studied including mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), atrazine (an agricultural herbicide), and trans-nonachlor (a pesticide). Lake Michigan Mass Balance is helping us understand where these chemicals are entering the Lake and what happens to them as they move through the ecosystem.
University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database - A searchable database of the microbial biocatalytic reactions and biodegradation pathways primarily for xenobiotic, chemical compounds. Search by compound, enzyme, or microorganism name; chemical formula; CAS Registry Number; or EC code.

Contaminated Sediments

Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments (ARCS) Reports - These technical reports contain results of assessments and other studies of contaminated sediments by the Great Lakes National Program Office of the U.S. EPA between 1988 and1994. The focus of these studies is on five priority areas of concern (AOC) in five of the Great Lake states: the Sheboygan River in Wisconsin, the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor in Indiana, the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay in Michigan, the Ashtabula River in Ohio, and the Buffalo River in New York.
Detroit District Operations Technical Support - Information about dredging operations by the Army Corps of Engineers in the Great Lakes.

Economy and Environment

Environment and Economy Site - This is a collection of documents that link environment and economics provided by Environment Canada - Ontario Region.
Economy of the Great Lakes Region - A collection of links provided by the Great Lakes Information Network.

Fish

Great Lakes Fish Stocking Database - This page summarizes the stocking of salmon and trout in the Great Lakes during the period 1958 - 1988.
Michigan Fisheries Information System (MFINS) - A computerized information system designed to provide users with access to computerized databases coupled with a user-friendly Geographic Information System (GIS) - ArcView.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alpena Fishery Resources Office - Opened in June of 1992 to meet Service fishery goals in the Great Lakes and to provide fishery assistance to Federal, State, Tribal and other Great Lakes management authorities. Alpena Fishery Resources Office activities support Service goals regarding native species, nonindigenous species, federal lands, Native American trust responsibilities, and fishery assistance.

Forestry

Imaging Systems Laboratory - This lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign conducts environmental perception research using computer-based technologies. The focus has been in the visualization and evaluation of large-scale environmental changes - the management of forest pests and fire, and harvesting practices. One of the projects is the development of Smart Forest, an interactive forest visualizer which is available for download.

GIS/Land Use Mapping

Great Lakes Map Server - Allows the user to interactively compose a map with select EPA site datasets and feature coverages for any local U.S. area within the Great Lakes region.
Illinois Critical Trends Assessment Program - Using Landsat satellite imagery, IL DNR scientists have compiled a comprehensive database of the state's surface cover. The data delineates natural features and artificial structures at a level of detail appropriate for regional analyses.
Illinois Natural Resources NSDI Geospatial Data Clearinghouse - This site is devoted to GIS data and metadata about Illinois natural resources.
Minnesota Land Management Information Center - A division of Minnesota Planning. LMIC was established in 1977 by the legislature to promote the use of geographic information and analysis in government.

Nonindigenous Species

Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site - A project of the National Sea Grant College Program, produced by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network. It is a national information center that contains a comprehensive collection of research publications and education materials produced by Sea Grant programs and other research institutions across the country on zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.
Invasive Plants of Canada (IPCAN) - Established for compiling information on the biology, range and control of invasive exotic plants and for developing databases for computer mapping and analysis.

Physical Attributes

Canadian Great Lakes Coastal Zone Database - The purpose of the database is to view the Great Lakes environment in an integrative manner to identify and analyze those areas susceptible to fluctuating water levels, flooding and erosion.
Great Lakes Hydraulics & Hydrology - Data on water levels, water outflow, weather, coastal engineering related to the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River shoreline provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Great Lakes Data Rescue - To the extent possible, NOAA will "rescue" Great Lakes geological and geophysical data and make them readily available to anyone, but especially the communities concerned with Great Lakes science, pollution, coastal erosion, response to climate changes, threats to lake ecosystems, and health of the fishing industry.

Water

NAWQA Study Units
- Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin Study Unit - The study unit represents all of the Lake Erie Basin in the United States. The study unit drains to the St. Clair River (starting at the outflow of Lake Huron) and to Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, and Lake Erie. The study unit ends at the Niagara River, the outflow of Lake Erie. Principal streams in the study unit include the Maumee River in Ohio and Indiana, the Sandusky River in Ohio, the River Raisin in Michigan, and Cattaraugus Creek in New York.
- Western Lake Michigan Study Unit
- Upper Illinois River Basin Study Unit - The upper Illinois River Basin lies within the Central Lowland Province and includes the Great Lakes and the Till Plains sections. The Great Lakes section is further subdivided into the Chicago Lake Plain and Wheaton Morainal subsections, and the Till Plains section is further subdivided into the Kankakee Plain and Bloomington Ridged Plain subsections.
- Upper Mississippi River Basin Study Unit - Encompasses more than 48,000 square miles in five states and includes three major drainage basins - those of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers. The study focuses on understanding the effects of the seven-county Twin Cities Metropolitan area on water quality in the study area.

Wetlands

Social and Legal

Great Lakes Commission - Since 1955, the Great Lakes Commission has dedicated its efforts toward securing a strong economy, clean environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its citizens. An eight-state compact agency founded in state and federal law, the Commission represents the collective views of the eight Great Lakes states.
Michigan Information Center - A unit within the Department of Management and Budget. MIC provides user consultation regarding data availability and applicability as well as training activities for its Michigan State Data Center Program statewide affiliate network.
Minnesota State Demographer's Office - Minnesota's link to the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
Northeast-Midwest Economic Data - Economic profiles from states in the Great Lakes region.

Major Research Centers

Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 (Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region) - Includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Region manages 1.2 million acres in refuge land and water on 46 national wildlife refuges and 9 wetland management districts, including more than 240,000 acres in waterfowl production areas. The region also manages 6 national fish hatcheries, 9 fisheries stations, 10 ecological services field offices, and 18 law enforcement field offices.
National Water Research Institute - Through ecosystem-based research, NWRI creates and disseminates new knowledge and understanding of aquatic ecosystems required for the resolution of environmental issues of regional, national or international significance to Canada.
Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis - An integral unit in the Indiana University's School of Business. The Center's staff collect, organize, analyze, and interpret economic and demographic information for and about the state of Indiana.
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) - GLERL's mission is to conduct integrated, interdisciplinary environmental research in support of resource management and environmental services in coastal and estuarine water, with special emphasis on the Great Lakes. GLERL's research provides scientific information to Federal, State, and international decision and policy makers.
- GLERL Datasets - A variety of data sets collected at GLERL are available for access.
Great Lakes Science Center - Dedicated to providing scientific information for the management of our nation's biological resources. The Center is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has biological stations and research vessels located throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
Great Lakes Sea Grant Network - Through its network of Advisory Service agents and its use of modern communications and education techniques, the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network plays a central role in supplying the region and the nation with usable solutions to pressing problems and providing the basic information needed to better manage Great Lakes resources.
The Lake Erie Soil and Water Research and Education Center at the University of Toledo - The goal of the Center is to assemble within a single facility programs in agricultural management, environmental chemistry, geography and land use planning, remote sensing and environmental monitoring, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, and aquatic ecosystem management to create a multidisciplinary center exploring the linkages between land use and water quality in the western catchment of Lake Erie.
U.S. EPA Region 5
- U.S. EPA Great Lakes Program Office (GLNPO) - Responsible for the U.S. EPA's activities on the Great Lakes.

Expertise

Academic Institutions:
Agencies:
- Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans - The departmental Mission is to manage Canada’s oceans and major waterways so that they are clean, safe, productive and accessible, to ensure sustainable use of fisheries resources, and to facilitate marine trade and commerce.
- Environment Canada - A science-based government department whose business is helping Canadians live and prosper in an environment that is properly protected and conserved. Its goal is to help make sustainable development a reality in Canada.
- Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources - Its goal is to contribute to the environmental, social and economic well-being of Ontario through the sustainable development of natural resources.
- State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Responsible for conserving, preserving and enhancing the state's natural treasures, while meeting the outdoor recreation needs of Illinois' large and diverse population.
- State of Indiana, Department of Natural Resources - Its mission is to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education.
- State of Michigan, Department of Natural Resources - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the
  State's natural resources for current and future generations.
  - Michigan DNR Institute for Fisheries Research - A research station of Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). IFR began almost 70 years ago as a joint effort between the University of Michigan and the Fisheries Division. IFR cooperates with many Michigan universities on fisheries research.
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Great Lakes - Provides advice and assistance to the Governor's office, members and staff of the Michigan Legislature and Congressional delegation, Directors and staff of the DNR, Public Health, Agriculture, Transportation and other State offices. Participates in regional policy discussions and forums such as the Great Lakes Commission, International Joint Commission, Council of Great Lakes Governors and the Binational Executive Committee.
- State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources - The DNR works to balance development needs with the need to protect natural resource values; preserve unique, threatened, and endangered resources; preserve unique cultural, historical, and archaeological resources; improve and restore degraded environments, and mitigate environmental losses; and integrate all natural resource concerns and perspectives in decision-making processes.
- State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources - Owns and manages more than 400,000 acres of land including 72 state parks, 19 state forests, 109 state nature preserves and 80 wildlife areas. The department also has jurisdiction over more than 100,000 acres of inland waters, as well as Ohio's portions of Lake Erie. In addition, ODNR licenses all hunting, fishing and watercraft in the state and is responsible for overseeing and permitting all mineral extraction, monitoring dam safety, managing water resources, coordinating the activity of Ohio's 88 major geologic structures and mineral resources and promoting recycling and litter prevention through grant programs in local communities.
- State of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources - Its mission is to protect and enhance our Natural Resources our air, land and water; our wildlife, fish and forests; To provide a clean environment and full range of outdoor opportunities; To insure the right of all Wisconsin citizens to use and enjoy these resources in their work and leisure; And in cooperation with all our citizens to consider the future and those who will follow us.
- Consultants:
  
  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (David R. Alldardice)
  
  University of Wisconsin-Madison - Dept. of Environmental and Resource Economics (Richard C. Bishop)
  
  Hagler Bailly (Mike Welsh)
  
  Limno-Tech, Inc. (John Wolfe)
  
  ECOSTRATEGIES (Peter Stokoe)
  
  Environment Canada Ontario Region (Ray Rivers)
  
  The Great Lakes Hydraulics & Hydrology (Roger L. Gauthier)
  
  Argonne National Lab, Decision and Information Sciences Division (Gale Boyd)
Sara Gottlieb / Maryland Sea Grant Extension / Last Updated: 04/02/02

Great Lakes Links

| General | Ag/Soils | Air | Biodiversity | Chemicals | Contaminated Sediments | | Economy and Environment | Fish | Forestry | GIS | Nonindigenous Species | Physical | | Water | Wetlands | Social/Legal | Research Centers | Expertise |

| General | Ag/Soils | Air | Biodiversity | Chemicals | Contaminated Sediments |
| Economy and Environment | Fish | Forestry | GIS | Nonindigenous Species | Physical |
| Water | Wetlands | Social/Legal | Research Centers | Expertise |