Great Lakes Water Quality Board 175^th Meeting
Summary of Discussion
Maumee Bay Resort, Oregon, OH
March 12^th, 2009

3. Review of minutes and Action Items of the 174th meeting

Members were provided 05-07 priority updates and informed that the land-water linkages report is still not finished. The urbanization report was approved by the boards last October for publication.  Final revisions on the ground water report are occurring and the report receiving recommendations for publication.

4. Western Lake Erie Basin Meeting – Impressions and Implications for WQB Nearshore Advice to the IJC

Discussion was encouraged of the Lake Erie Western Basin Meeting, especially in the context of WQB advice on the nearshore.  This watershed is the key to addressing the nearshore.  Nothing particularly new was presented but reconfirmed importance of grassroots organizations and NGOs working together with input from monitoring.

The Board discussed how what is being done in the Maumee may benefit other watersheds. It was suggested that there is a lack of data to identify where problems are coming from and that there is also a lack of funding to collect more data. It was further suggested that watersheds and nearshore should be integrated. Issues in the nearshore are symptoms of broader problems.

Action Item:  Draft letter from WQB Co-chairs, thanking WLEB team for inviting WQB to meet with them and to solicit their feedback on how the WQB might be helpful in advancing their good work.

5. WQB 2005-2007 Priority Reports – Update

This item was covered under Item 3 and the review of Action Items from the previous meeting.

6. 2007-2009 Priorities- Brief Updates and Reporting Timelines

A summary of the eutrophication workshop was given to members. A review of the fuzzy cognitive mapping technique was discussed.  This may be a process that could be considered for other issues dealing with a lot of uncertainty. 

Members were informed that the beaches white papers have been submitted and the work group is expecting to meet the deadline. 

The emerging chemicals work group held an expert consultation in Chicago and completed white papers in advance of the workshop.

The fish consumption group is currently working on completing various white papers and recently held a work session to attempt to complete their report. 

There will be an AIS workshop next week in Detroit. The outline of the white paper has been approved by the work group and a draft report should be available at the end of March.

The papers for all of the work groups will be available at the October Biennial meeting, leaving ample time the take suggestions and make revisions.

7. 2009-2011 Priorities- Ideas and Timelines

Members were briefed on the history of the biennial work planning process. It was explained that if work on a particular priority is not totally completed during the 2 year cycle it will often get moved into the next cycle.

Members discussed LaMPs and touched on the following topics: communicating LaMP goals; shifting focus from remediation to preserving good areas; the fact that the LaMP approach is both ecosystem and nearshore based. It was decided that the discussion be kept open to ideas from other Board members for the following two weeks.

8. Other Business

Members were informed that Commission staff is still working on the14th Biennial Report final draft. It will be reviewed by Commissioners during their next conference call.  It appears that the 15th Biennial Report will focus on the work of the Boards and will be nearshore themed.

9. Next Meeting: Niagara Falls, NY, June 10-11, 2009

The Niagara Falls Meeting was discussed. Members were informed that there will be a June 10th review of five priorities. On June 11th there will be an all day event on the assessment of Niagara River toxic contaminate sites. There will also be a bus tour of selected sites in the afternoon and a public meeting that evening.