Towards a Great Lakes Early Warning System
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement charges the International Joint Commission, supported by its Great Lakes advisory boards, with several responsibilities including identification of emerging issues facing the Great Lakes. To help fulfill this responsibility the IJC’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board undertook the conceptual development of a Great Lakes Early Warning System (GLEWS) in two phases.
Phase 1 (undertaken from 2017-2020) developed an organizational approach. Six different organizational models were examined through an expert workshop, and the project work group identified a preferred organizational framework. A Phase 1 summary report and contractor report are available.
Phase 2 (undertaken from 2020-2024) developed a decision framework. Five case studies were examined through an expert workshop, and a framework was developed to assess potential threats by applying a decision tree that is designed to identify the most highly consequential threats for subsequent management and mitigation. A Phase 2 summary report and contractor report are available.
The Phase 2 report was presented in a public webinar on June 13, 2024. A recording of the webinar is available below. The slides from the webinar are available here.
The Science Advisory Board has initiated a pilot project that will use two stressors to test the GLEWS organizational and decision framework.