Resolution: Support for Effective Environmental Monitoring Programs in the Great Lakes Basin
Adopted on May 16, 2001

Whereas, accurate and timely monitoring information is necessary to effectively manage and protect natural resources and the environment in the Great Lakes; and

Whereas, monitoring programs evaluate the condition of natural resources, measure trends through time, characterize and prioritize existing problems, detect new and emerging problems, and develop and document the effectiveness of pollution control, remediation and related management activities; and

Whereas, monitoring programs protect public health by identifying sources, causes and remedial measures for contaminated beaches, tainted fish and wildlife, exotic species, excessive plant growth, drinking water contamination, and other threats; and

Whereas, commercial navigation, recreational boating, commercial and sport fishing and other valuable economic activities in the Great Lakes depend on federally-supported monitoring of resource conditions and uses; and

Whereas, federal funding sources support, complement and leverage state, tribal and local monitoring efforts and are therefore vital to achieving and maintaining effective monitoring programs for the Great Lakes ecosystem; and

Whereas, numerous initiatives are underway to coordinate monitoring efforts and facilitate their application across jurisdictional boundaries, including, among others, the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, Lakewide Management Plans, the Lake Huron Initiative, the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council, the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Project, the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channel Monitoring Committee, and National Water Quality Assessments; and

Whereas, the U.S. Congress has mandated numerous resource management and environmental protection programs with substantial associated monitoring needs; and

Whereas, funding to support these monitoring efforts is often inadequate or inconsistent, with substantial reductions currently proposed in key areas, and

Whereas, budget cuts for key federal monitoring programs will significantly compromise monitoring efforts in the Great Lakes basin, thereby impairing or precluding effective decision-support systems.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls on the U.S. Congress and federal agencies to maintain adequate resources for monitoring programs that support vital environmental protection and resource management efforts in the Great Lakes Basin; and

Be It Further Resolved, when mandating new or expanded environmental programs, the U.S. Congress should provide the necessary funding to support monitoring and information management needs associated with those programs; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission encourage its member states, provinces and Observer agencies to work collaboratively to maintain and enhance existing programs, build additional capacity where needed, and highlight the contributions that monitoring programs make to Great Lakes management efforts.

Unanimously adopted by the eight member states of the Great Lakes Commission at the 2001 Semiannual Meeting in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 16, 2001.