Sept. 10 Congressional Briefing
Integrated Monitoring for the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River System

The Great Lakes Commission invites you to a September 10 briefing in Washington, D.C., to discuss plans and funding requirements for a Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) and related monitoring programs.

Speakers will address:

• The need for integrated monitoring, modeling and analyses to support implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
• Recommended enhancements to the current water level and flow monitoring network on the Great Lakes and interconnecting waterways
• Recent efforts to establish a GLOS Regional Association to coordinate planning, operations and product development for Great Lakes monitoring and modeling activities
• Expected recommendations in the upcoming U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report and pending legislation to authorize an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

The agenda follows. Please plan to attend this public briefing if you're in Washington, and we encourage you to share this announcement with your colleagues and congressional interests.

Agenda
Friday, Sept. 10: 10 a.m. EDT, 2318 Rayburn House Office Building

10 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Joy Mulinex, Director, Great Lakes Task Force

Panel presentations (10 min each)

1. Gail Krantzberg, Director, Great Lakes Office, International Joint Commission
2. Helen Brohl, Executive Director, U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Association
3. Roger Gauthier, Program Manager, Great Lakes Commission
4. Tom Malone, Director, ocean.us/IOOS

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.