Great Lakes Commission Re-evaluates Non-Point Source Pollution Programming

The GLC became involved in Great Lakes nonpoint source pollution efforts in the 1980s. Several things occurred to bring about this initial involvement. The Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference Group (PLUARG) report had been released by the International Joint Commission (IJC.) The report identified the Great Lakes were being degraded by pollutants washed into the lakes from the land, that is pollutants from diffuse areas rather than from the end of a factory pipe. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was amended in the early 1980’s and established nonpoint phosphorus reduction goals for several of the Great Lakes. In 1985, a new farm bill was passed which included conservation programs that placed an emphasis on sediment reduction for water quality improvement.

These regionwide issues required regionwide coordination and effort. The reduction of sediment and attached phosphorus became the focus of the GLC’s nonpoint program. A sediment task force was formed and the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control was developed. This program, over the following decades, was very successful in providing grants to local organizations to reduce soil erosion and sediment. The program also established a regional outreach program. However, over the years, additional NPS pollutants also threatened the health of the lakes and information requirements have increased for all the NPS pollutants.

The GLC is, therefore, assessing the need to include, as identified by our members and partners, additional NPS pollutants and programs requiring a regional approach into its future workplans.

The types of additional programs could include:

• Host a one-stop library of technical information. This would build on the current effort Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) system. Information is a valuable resource. A one-stop internet library site would allow practitioners to readily obtain the informational resources they need to more efficiently reduce nonpoint source pollution.

• Regional technical workshops. Conduct a series of pollutant specific one-day workshops. The workshops would be directed towards those organizations involved with mitigation efforts.

• Establish Grant Funding Program. Develop agrant program, similar to the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, to assist local organizations mitigate the damages caused by nonpoint source pollutants other than sediment.

• Compile NPS Statistics: A compilation of pollutants by specific geographic area would provide practitioners information on the critical areas to focus their efforts.

• Conduct Social Behavioral Studies: Engage social scientists to become more active in the effort to change landusers behavior towards more eco-friendly decisions.

• Expand Monitoring Network: Expand and increase the coordination of the Great Lakes monitoring network to more efficiently track NPS pollutants reduction progress.

• Establish NPS Pollutant Reduction Goals: Develop a scientific methodology to set goals for priority pollutants in each of the lakes.

• Establish NPS Think Tank: Establish a standing committee of (volunteer) scientist to develop futuristic recommendations to reduce NPSP. Core function: Education, Facilitation, Consensus Building.

These and additional priorities of our members will be considered as the GLC’s NPS program is expanded. Additional regional needs can be addressed to Gary Overmier at garyo@glc.org.