Resolution: Decision Support for Water Resources Management
Adopted on October 15, 2002

Whereas, under Article I of the Great Lakes Basin Compact, the Great Lakes Commission is responsible for advancing the informed use, development and conservation of Great Lakes basin water resources; and

Whereas, in response to the Great Lakes Governors' 1999 statement on protecting the Great Lakes which contained a pledge to develop a better base of water use data and, with the support of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the Great Lakes Commission and its partners have been assessing data, research and models for their application in the Water Resources Management Decision Support System (WRMDSS); and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission is soon to release a report outlining and assessing data and information availability, gaps and needs pertaining to water withdrawal, export and use; and

Whereas, this report will provide a series of findings and recommendations to help ensure that regional water resources management, planning and decisionmaking are conducted on a scientifically sound basis; and

Whereas, the Water Management Working Group of the Council of Great Lakes Governors is making continued progress in the implementation of Great Lakes Charter Annex 2001 (PDF) directives; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission and its project partners recognize that their work under the WRMDSS project is informing the Annex implementation process and is an essential first step toward the development of a decision support system.

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission applauds the leadership provided by the Council of Great Lakes Governors and its Annex 2001 Working Group; and

Be it further resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission further applauds the work of its WRMDSS Project Management Team, Stakeholders Advisory Committee and Technical Subcommittees in moving toward the development of a decision support system; and

Be it further resolved, that the member states and provinces of the Great Lakes Commission agree to seriously consider all report findings and recommendations, when released, in the interest of advancing regional water resources management decisionmaking; and

Be it further resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission recognizes the need for timely follow-up to the WRMDSS project work and the important next steps of an information gathering system; and

Be it finally resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission will work in close partnership with its member states and provinces and the Council of Great Lakes Governors to pursue the necessary partnerships, financial support and other assistance to build upon the progress to date and move forward a decision support system that ensures the best available information.

Unanimously adopted by the Great Lakes Commission at its Annual Meeting, October 15, 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio.