Great Lakes Round-up. Lake Erie Environmental Forum 3/19/2019

Transcription

1 Great Lakes Round-up Lake Erie Environmental Forum 3/19/2019

2 84% of Surface freshwater in North America 8 degrees of latitude N to S, 750 miles East To West 4,530 miles of U.S. coastline the most in U.S! 1/5 of the Surface freshwater in the world.

3 The Laurentian Great Lakes Or The Great Lakes of North America Region is World s 3 th Largest economy Largest Trade Partners Home to 30 million people

4 - 77 miles of coastline. - 2% of the total Great Lakes watershed area.

5 Great Lakes Governance 2018 Election changed the political landscape of the Great Lakes. This will change the representation on Great Lakes governance bodies. Five new Governors were elected. Both Canadian Premiers are new also. State or Province Illinois Michigan Minnesota Ohio Ontario Quebec Wisconsin New Gov. or Premier Gov. J.B. Pritzker Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Gov. Tim Walz Gov. Mike Dewine Prem. Doug Ford Prem. Francois Legault Gov. Tony Evers

6 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Update Annex 2: Lakewide Management 2013 Lake Erie Planning Year, 2014 Field Year (Cooperative SMI), 2015 Lab Analysis, 2016 Data Analysis, Lake Erie Report and Outreach, Creation of Lake Erie LAMP. The Lake Erie LAMP will: Establish Lakewide Ecosystem Objectives (LEOs) Provide a State of the Lake Identify science priorities. Prioritize protection and restoration actions. Integrate nutrient issues from Annex 4. The Lake Erie LAMP Partnership Work Group (DEP Jim Grazio is member) is assisting in the writing of the LAMP. Nearshore Framework was finalized in late September 2017.

7 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Update Annex 4: Nutrients Adopted new phosphorus reduction targets in February US and Canada each developed and finalized Domestic Action Plans Feb Available on PA Domestic Action Plan finalized in September Available on PA DEP Great Lakes Program webpage. Great Lakes Commission developed and adding functionality to ErieSTAT tracking website.

8 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Update Annex 4: Nutrients Pennsylvania Actions for Lake Erie Completed file reviews of assessments/studies/existing data. Summer 2019 report out quality of data found and justification for future needs. Continuing programs that help with nutrient reductions: Erie County Conservation District PA VinES Erie County Dept. of Health Small Flow Treatment Facilities Erie County Dept. of Planning Municipal Stormwater Assistance Program Participating in loading calculations and modeling for the Basin.

9 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Update Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan & Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative 5-Year Rotation 2013 Lake Erie Planning Year, 2014 Field Year (CSMI), 2015 Lab Analysis, 2016 Data Analysis, Lake Erie Report and Outreach, Creation of Lake Erie LAMP. LAMP is expected in Currently being drafted through a binational and interstate/provincial team of scientists and policy experts CSMI what is it? Pennsylvania participation and role.

10 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement Governs water use and diversions within the Great Lakes Basin. Designed to protect the resource and reduce conflict between political jurisdictions. Compact is signed between the states, ratified by Congress, implemented by states. Agreement is between states AND provinces. Has same language as the compact. Both were formalized in 2008.

11 Compact and Agreement Provisions Created Water Resources Council (Compact Council) and the Regional Body. Pennsylvania maintains two alternates and designees of Governor Wolf. Each state must implement a water resources inventory, registration and reporting program. Each state must implement a water conservation and efficiency program.

12 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement All new or increased withdrawals must meet criteria. BAN on all new or increased diversions from the basin (with 3 specific exceptions). Established Regional Review process for evaluating withdrawals and diversion exceptions.

13 Compact and Agreement: Current Events December 2018 Adoption of Procedures Update and Rules Package 2019 Activities Update of Science Strategy Update of Conservation and Efficiency Objectives 5-Year Conservation and Efficiency Program Evaluation Second Round of Rulemaking

14 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative PA LAMP Implementation and DAP New methods of funding PA activities through the GLRI in FY TOTAL - $1.37 Million for PA State Capacity funding for LAMP implementation activities increased to $825, Presque Isle Bay Bulk Sediment Sampling and Analysis 2019 Fish Tumor and Histopathology Sampling and Analysis 2020 Presque Isle Bay Watershed Monitoring for Habitat, Fish, Benthos, Water Quality and Tributary Sediments Erie Co. Planning MSAP - $100,000 Regional Science Consortium HAB Monitoring - $91,200 Phosphorus Reduction DAP Funds - $552,453 ECCD - PA VinES - $243,000 ECDH SFTF - $309,453

15 Great Lakes Commission Commission is in the process of new appointments for the new Governors and Premiers. Completing a Organizational Analysis and examining Compact. Continuing to focus on projects such as Blue Accounting, Water Asset and Infrastructure Management, ErieSTAT (nutrients). Prominent role in near future on Ballast Water. Vessel Incidental Discharge Act and the Great Lakes Discharge Commission. March 2019 Board Meeting in D.C., May Semi-Annual Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI

16 PA State Water Plan The Plan is a non-prescriptive, non-regulatory, nonbinding policy and guidance document related to the water resources of the Commonwealth. Discusses how much water we have, how much we use, and how much we need. Process was delayed, appointments are yet to be made by Governor s Office. Plan is accomplished through 7 regional water resources committees. GL Committee will be staffed by Tim Bruno. Timetable being developed by DEP Central Office.

17 Thank you! Timothy J. Bruno Chief, Office of the Great Lakes Department of Environmental Protection Interstate Waters Office Tom Ridge Environmental Center 301 Peninsula Drive, Suite 4 Erie, PA Phone: Fax: