Great Lakes Nonpoint Source Pollution from Land Use Workshop: A Post-PLUARG Review

November 8-9, 2004

Courtyard Marriot, Ann Arbor, MI

Executive Summary and Workshop Proceedings: Coming Soon!

Overview

The Great Lakes Commission hosted a two-day workshop to review progress in addressing nonpoint source pollution since completion of the Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference Group (PLUARG) reports in the 1970s and to assess the current state of nonpoint source pollution in the Great Lakes Basin. This workshop was designed for agency officials, researchers, and practitioners involved in land use management and non-point source pollution control in the Great Lakes region. It was sponsored by U.S. EPA GLNPO, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, with staff support from the Great Lakes Commission.

The workshop featured a series of breakout groups to discuss key issues and unmet needs for the following nonpoint source pollutants of concern: sediment, nutrients, pathogen, and pesticides/chemicals. In addition, a series of discussion sessions were convened to develop recommendations to address the issues and unmet needs identified during the breakout sessions.

Commission staff will publish and distribute a proceedings document which will include a summary of the breakout and discussion session results, and a section of findings and recommendations for consideration by appropriate agencies and public officials within the region. This document will be availble online and will be distributed to all conference participants.

Background Materials: Great Lakes Nonpoint Source Pollution From Land Use Workshop

• Briefing Book Cover (PDF)
• Workshop Program (PDF)
• Presentation Summaries (PDFs)
• Historical Overview of PLUARG and Progress to Date: U.S Perspective; Dr. Terry Logan, Ohio State University
• Historical Overview of PLUARG and Progress to Date: Canadian Perspective; Dr. Dennis Gregor, Gartner Lee Limited
• Current Trends and Emerging Issues; Urbanization Pressures on Great Lakes Water Quality; Isobel W. Heathcote and Christine Zimmer, University of Guelph
• Summary of Remarks on Sediment; Bob Burris, USDA-NRCS, retired
• Nutrient status and trends for Lake Erie tributaries, 1975-2004; Dr. Peter Richards, Heidelberg College Water Quality Laboratory
• Key Issues and Unmet Needs: Microbial Pathogens; Dr. Rebecca Calderon, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development
• Summary of USGS Remarks on Pesticides/Chemicals; Norm Grannemann, U.S. Geological Survey
• Nonpoint Sources of Pollution to the Great Lakes Basin (PDF)
• The Secrets Behind PLUARG (PDF)
• PLUARG Executive Summary and Recommendations
• Reflections from a U.S. Landowner (PDF)
• Nonpoint Source Pollution Program Summaries with Timeline (PDF)
• Workshop Attendee List (PDF)

Contact

Tom Crane, Great Lakes Commission
Phone: 734-971-9135
Fax: 734-971-9150
E-mail: tcrane@glc.org

Laura Kaminski, Great Lakes Commission
Phone: 734-971-9135
Fax: 734-971-9150
E-mail: laurak@glc.org