Panel #2 – Snap Shot Summary: Water Governance in the Great Lakes Region

The Great Lakes can't solve all environmental threats facing the Great Lakes, but it can set an example for other regions and nations to follow.  And check out the Great Lakes Futures Project.

A pre-Q&A summary of the second panel of the CUSLI 2013 Conference.

Participants: 

• Lana Pollack, Chair of the U.S. Section, International Joint Commission (Chair)
• Andy Buchsbaum, Regional Executive Director, Great Lakes Regional Center, National Wildlife Federation
• Tim Eder, Executive Director, Great Lakes Commission
• Gail Krantzberg, Professor and Director of the Dofasco Centre for Engineering and Public Policy, School of Engineering, McMaster University
• Jeffrey Mears, Environmental Area Manager, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
• Rear Adm. Michael Parks, District Commander, Ninth  U.S. Coast Guard District (Discussant)

Past Successes, and Current Successes:  The Great Lakes, Great Lakes Compact, and the Invasive Species Threat

This group focused on the past success of the Great Lakes Compact, and then turned to the challenges of the Asian Carp and then Ballast Water Issue.  It then moved to the challenge of carbon pollution and how the Great Lakes region can begin to tackle the immense challenge of climate change.

Gail Krantzberg got the panel off to the sharp start.  Bristling at the “bizarre” opposition between environmental and economic interest groups and organizations, she asked if “Asian Carp isn’t a problem” that can unify us to tackle water management issues, what is? 

Rear Adm. Michael Parks, District Commander, Ninth U.S. Coast Guard District highlighted the success of the Great Lakes joint inspection success, and the international standard on ballast water.  He also noted that with the Asian Carp issue, he noted the lack of consensus on how to solve this issue.  And he noted the success of keeping invasive species out of the Great Lakes from ballast water.

Parks main message:  we need one voice.

Andy Buchsbaum then emphasized that more must be done with ballast water.  He stressed that both governments need to look for evasive species, and “we’ll likely find them.”  And he noted that litigation pushed the EPA and then the Coast Guard to take steps on ballast water.  “Part of this is science, and not of this is politics,” and because of that the states become “the drivers to make this happen.”

Krantzberg then stressed the “who’s in charge? Nobody’s in charge” problem with Great Lakes water management.  She emphasized that waiting for unity on solutions, especially when the government issues regulations, that government has trouble with acting “in the face of uncertainty.”  The real solution:  Government must experiment if we can address Great Lakes issues and global climate change.

Lana Pollock then highlighted the tension between acting “ahead of the game, or waiting until everything’s crashing down on you.” 

Tim Eder observed that the Compact had business interest to solve the problem, whereas Ballast water does not have the same unified business support.

Climate Change:  Great Lakes Can't Solve This Alone, But It Can Propel National and International Action By Setting an Example

On the global climate front, the panelists emphasized local steps that the Great Lakes Region can do to propel national and international scene to take real action on climate change.

Jeffrey Mears emphasized how his tribe was adapting to climate change.  The tribe, which has a casino, is dealing with increasing short-term water events that could risk wiping away roads.  The problem?  Wipe away the road to the casino, the tribe is in trouble.  “We have to survive this,” Mears stated noting that some tribes are losing their land.

Michael Parks emphasized “shared awareness” doesn’t exist for the climate challenge facing the region.  “There’s not a commitment for everyone to have a shared sacrifice” when it comes to the Great Lakes.

Andy Buschbaum then emphasized work that is being done in the region.  “We have elements” in place, “there are solutions” but we need to do more. 

And Pollack did add that, on the mitigation end, the Obama administration has increased fuel economy standards.  While “piecemeal, we shouldn’t be too discouraged.”

Tim Eder then provided a strong insight about what the sub-national Great Lakes region can do to address climate change.  While its actions can't fix carbon pollution, the Great Lakes--through the work of the new Council of the Great Lakes Region--can set an example for nations to follow. 

And, finally, Gail Krantzberg emphasized that the Great Lakes Futures project, that is bringing together over dozen universities and students (who are tomorrow's leaders) who are making policy recommendations for the next 50 years of Great Lakes water management.