Back ||NOAA Home Great Lakes Commission Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr NOAA Administrator May 7, 2002 Great Lakes Commissioners, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening! Thank you, Nate, for the kind introduction. It is a great pleasure for me to be here with you today and I am honored to be your keynote speaker tonight. If time permitted, I'd gladly spend several days here. Quebec is a beautiful city and an ideal site for the 2002 Semiannual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission. Many thanks to the Government of Quebec for their gracious hospitality. I am aware that over 100 senior officials from the U.S. and Canada, representing states, provinces, federal agencies, tribal authorities and private sector and citizen interests are in attendance. This group represents an enormous diversity of knowledge and experience as well as having vested interest in the welfare of the Great Lakes region. I thank Mike Donahue for the invitation to be here today. I had the opportunity this past February to appear on the same panel with Mike at the House Science Committee's hearing on the Sea Grant program. I was gratified to hear the Commission's view that Great Lakes states – and the entire nation – have been well-served by Sea Grant's research, education and outreach services. In fact, Mike invited me to address you on the suggestion of Nathaniel Robinson and Frank Kudrna, two Great Lakes Commission members who also sit on the National Sea Grant Review Panel. Additionally, I must thank two of my valued NOAA team members, Stephen Brandt, Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and Charles Ehler, Director of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) who both serve as official observers of the Commission. I appreciate very much the time and effort you are devoting to the Commission's activities. I will say right up front that I have a very strong commitment to partnerships and teamwork such as the relationship between NOAA and the Great Lakes Commission, and I am here to lend my support to building this partnership. My comments this evening will focus on NOAA's involvement in the Great Lakes region as well as with this Commission. But before I begin, let me tell you a little about myself so that we can get better acquainted. I am a retired naval officer. I served for 40 years in various positions in the Navy, both on board ships and on land in Washington DC and I have worked extensively on strategic planning and budget issues. I am very pleased and honored to have this opportunity to join NOAA and to serve in an organization that is bursting with talented people and has a mission of critical importance to the future of both our nations. Before coming to NOAA I was president of CORE, the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, and I worked with the university community promoting oceanographic research. I have developed a great appreciation and respect for the work that these dedicated scientists do for our country. I am optimistic about the future and my vision for the future shows NOAA playing a prominent role in addressing some of the most significant challenges that we have today in our ocean and atmospheric environment. We face national and global challenges of importance that can only be resolved by partnerships of all sizes and shapes across the country. The Great Lakes region of our country is an extremely important part of the national picture, both in itself and as part of the whole. I believe strongly that this organization needs to remain engaged both in working to solve the issues of this region and serving as part of the national coalition to understand and manage our environment in a responsible manner. Now let us talk about some of the important regional interests and how we can work together to protect and restore invaluable resources. The Great Lakes comprise the largest system of fresh surface water on the face of the earth with the binational Great Lakes Basin spanning 95,000 square miles of water. It is home to over 40 million Americans and Canadians who, either directly or indirectly, benefit from the lakes in terms of environmental health, economic opportunity and quality of life. Therefore, this is an important resource to all of us. NOAA Presence in the Great Lakes So what is NOAA's role in the Great Lakes and how does NOAA propose to move forward. NOAA has a very broad and multi disciplinary scientific mission as well as environmental stewardship, assessment, and prediction responsibilities in the Great Lakes region. In fact, several key NOAA programs and facilities play a role in this region on a daily basis. NOAA maintains a large U.S. federal science presence in the Great Lakes region with overall spending for NOAA Great Lakes programs in the range of $100 million annually. Stemming from this investment, we have a diversity of strengths in the region and I would like to ensure that you are aware of the major NOAA programs in this region. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory conducts physical, chemical, and biological research and environmental modeling, providing scientific expertise and services to manage and protect ecosystems. The laboratory's investigations help to improve the understanding and prediction of coastal and estuarine processes, including the interdependencies with the atmosphere and sediments. The National Sea Grant Program, a partnership between universities and NOAA, encourages stewardship of Great Lakes coastal natural resources by providing funding to area universities for research of biological, physical, and chemical systems, and for education, outreach and technology transfer. Seven Sea Grant programs are working in the Great Lakes region. These programs are located in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and a joint Illinois/Indiana program. NOAA's investment in Great Lakes Sea Grant Programs has grown 10.5% over this time span vs. 5.9% for other parts of the country combined. Of great importance to the region are aquatic nuisance species and the U.S. Federal investment through Sea Grant's Aquatic Nuisance Species Program. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) State Geodetic Advisor Program is a cost-sharing program that provides a liaison between NOAA and the host state, usually with a jointly funded NOAA employee residing in the state to guide and assist the state's geodetic and surveying programs. The program supports state advisors in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana. New York may also join this effort. NGS also coordinates a network of continuously operating reference stations (CORS) that provide precise Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements to support vertical positioning activities throughout the United States and its territories. Approximately 54 National CORS stations are in the Great Lakes. The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) serves to protect and restore aquatic natural resources and associated human-use services such as safe navigation and transportation via maintained navigation channels, recreation, commercial fishing, and flood control provided by wetlands. Through its two field offices in the Great Lakes region (Cleveland and Chicago), OR&R works closely with communities, states, and with other federal agencies to clean up contaminated sediments and waste sites, restore the Lakes' coastal resources, and promote better oil and chemical spill prevention and response. The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in partnership with 7 state Coastal Zone Management programs in the Great Lakes region (Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan), works with local communities and State agencies to preserve, protect, develop, restore, and enhance coastal zone resources. Coastal Zone Management Grants are provided to these seven states in the Great Lakes region. In FY01, NOAA provided special Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants to support coastal and water quality restoration. All 8 states in Great Lakes region participated through a matching grants program. Part of OCRM provides research, education, and protection of coastal and estuarine areas through the National Estuaries Research Reserve and National Marine Sanctuaries programs. NOAA provided support to the Old Woman Creek NERR on Lake Erie which decreases polluted runoff from agriculture fields into the estuary. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located near Michigan, is the first Marine Sanctuary designation based solely on cultural resources. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conducts research, monitoring, and assessments of the coastal environment. NCCOS predicts impacts of pollution and coastal development on sensitive habitats and resources. For the past five years, the Coastal Ocean Program, part of NCCOS, jointly sponsored the Episodic Events Great Lakes Experiment (EEGLE) with the National Science Foundation, which characterizes the materials in the sediment plume and assess their potential impact on the cycling and transport of nutrients and contaminants. NOAA also sponsors a Mussel Watch Program which monitors the chemical contaminants in sediments and bivalve mollusks at 20 sites in Green Bay, and Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario to determine temporal contaminant trends. The Office of Coast Survey provides surveying, nautical charts, and other navigation services for safe shipping and boating. NOAA operates and maintains the Soo Locks Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) in partnership with the USACE and the Lake Carriers Association. This installation provides mariners with up to date wind, water level and current data. Of the 1,000 nautical charts produced and maintained by NOAA, 137 charts cover portions of the Great Lakes. We now have 23 NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) covering the major ports of the Great Lakes posted on the Internet for free download. NOAA's navigational aides of the Great Lakes is even more critical now because of the continuation of the abnormally low lake levels occurring over the past few years. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services provides real-time and historical water levels in the Great Lakes to help ensure effective management of the region's water resources. This information supports coastal management, maritime commerce, and the recreational community. Located in Madison, WI, The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), in conjunction with NOAA's satellite service, develops and implements techniques and products to improve severe storm forecasting. Lastly, the National Weather Service provides the weather and flood warnings, forecasts, meteorological and hydrologic data used by research, environmental management, transportation, and community interests in the Great Lakes. As you can see, NOAA has an impressive array of interactions and responsibilities involved in Great Lakes research, management, and stewardship. The base of activity will become even more important as Great Lakes resources come under increased pressure. The Great Lakes Commission/ NOAA Partnership The Great Lakes Commission / NOAA relationship is a case study in successful federal / state partnership. The member states and provinces of the Great Lakes Commission look to NOAA, and GLERL in particular, for science-based data and information critically important to sound public policy decision making. GLERL is a fixture on many project task forces and technical committees that deal with the most challenging issues of our day. These include lake level fluctuations, climate change, coastal processes, water diversion and consumptive use, aquatic nuisance species prevention and control, and many others. This partnership is particularly evident with the seven Sea Grant Programs active in the Great Lakes states. It is also fair to say that the member states of the Great Lakes Commission look to these programs for research, education and extension functions. Much of the success of Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts to date can be attributed to a well-informed and active citizenry. And, the Great Lakes Sea Grant Programs, despite their modest size, have an extraordinary presence and impact throughout the region. We have an impressive array of areas in which we work together today and accordingly a strong base exists for future planning. I also am cognizant that the Great Lakes must be viewed not only on an issue level but also on an international level. We must work as closely with Canada as we do within the United States in order to approach the Great Lakes region in the most holistic manner possible. It is an important fact that 40 million Americans and Canadians live in this region and 25 million of them depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water. Water availability and water quality are critical to the future of the Great Lakes region. Only then will we do justice to the various species of fish and other wildlife dependant on water levels, healthy wetlands, food supplies, and contaminated sediment clean ups. And only then will we do justice to the fishermen, ship and boat operators, tribal interests, and recreationists. As in the past and now presently, we will look to the Great Lakes Commission for advice and help to plan and set priorities for efforts in the region. NOAA is a constant presence in the Great Lakes but its presence among the "inland oceans" should continue to be relevant and supportive of regional imperatives. My goal is that NOAA's overall work in this region continue to provide research, stewardship, education and extension services that as in the past will measurably contribute to a cleaner environment, a stronger economy, a better quality of life and a well-informed and involved public. I realize that there are several opportunities for the future currently under discussion and I would like to touch on those as well as focus on a few items which are important to where I believe NOAA needs to go in the future. First, NOAA and the Great Lakes Commission are presently laying the groundwork for an exciting partnership opportunity that touches on a leading unmet regional need: the development of a large-scale, consensus-driven and science-based ecosystem restoration plan. The intent is to develop a vision for the Great Lakes region, a series of goals and objectives, and practical, measurable tasks that will contribute toward achievement of that vision. Partnership with NOAA's National Sea Grant Program can be a centerpiece of this initiative, given that the Commission's policy and management emphasis will be complemented nicely by Sea Grant's substantial scientific, technical and outreach capabilities. Second, a goal of both NOAA and the Great Lakes Commission is to ensure the sustainable use and management of Great Lakes water resources to protect environmental quality and provide for water-based economic activity in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Commission has been instrumental in supporting NOAA for the implementation of a Real-time Great Lakes Water Level / Environmental Monitoring Network. The results are that in FY02, NOAA was able to provide real-time access to 51 Great Lakes water level gauges and associated data by internet via NOAA' Great Lakes-On-Line and by phone, supporting the marine transportation system, coastal managers, and many other users. This information went on-line in March and this ability to monitor and assess the worlds' greatest fresh water resource is essential for environmental and economic prosperity. Third, the co-location of GLERL, the Great Lakes Commission, and 6 other institutions has been explored over the last 3 years. The proposed Center for Great Lakes Research and Policy will not only resolve the pressing housing needs of the agencies in Ann Arbor but will also provide a stable regional Great Lakes focal point and resource. Fourth, in the United States, we now have a political imperative to focus on climate. It is very important to understand the linkages between the President's Climate Initiative and how climate will influence this resource. The Great Lakes are one of the most heavily managed ecosystems in the world and are expected to remain so with climate as the major external driving force. It is therefore critical that we have as clear an understanding as possible on how climate effects the Great Lakes. In fact, climate observations, science and forecasting is one of the major theme areas on which NOAA needs to focus. I believe an integrated and sustained observing system is an essential first step to providing the information we need on ocean circulation patterns as well as atmospheric and ocean coupling about which we know very little. In a fully developed system, future climate services and observations will need to include evaluation of climate impacts on regional resources such as water quantity and water quality. This is extremely important to the Great Lakes region. In passing, allow me to mention that I am trying to bring emphasis on coordination and integration across NOAA line offices to support missions and needs of the 21st Century. Climate observations and services is one of these areas. One of my other major themes is ecosystem forecasting and management. Items such as ballast water, invasive species, water quality, water levels, sediment control, and toxics are certainly individually important to address but are even more important together as they affect our ecosystems. We focus on these topics here much as we focus on them on the other coasts of the United States. We are in the Great Lakes for the same reasons that we are in the other coastal states along the East, West, and Gulf Coasts. Managing and monitoring all our coasts is important to both our economic health as well as ecosystem health. As we work together for the future, please take note of the upcoming meeting of the Ocean Commission in your area. That Commission will be meeting with the Great Lakes Commission in Chicago on September 23, 2002. It is important that groups such as yours express the importance of this region to the Commission as it truly is the "fourth coast". Therefore, the "fourth coast" must be well represented and the issues facing the Great Lakes region must be well stated and expressed to this very important Commission. In fact, the last Commission of this sort, the Stratton Commission, directed the formation of NOAA. The work of the Ocean Commission is extremely important to future coastal and ocean science and regulation. It is also important that you indicate to them how your partners, such as NOAA, can aid in addressing the issues surrounding the Great Lakes, now and in the future. Simply put, the Great Lakes Commission has a major role to play in setting priorities for the region, the country and internationally. We need to take advantage of common interests and strength and I believe NOAA should be a part of your vision for the future. Ending Statement Let me once again emphasize that I believe that the work that NOAA conducts in the Great Lakes region is substantial and has long lasting benefit to the nation. I also believe that the Great Lakes Commission is critical to setting and achieving regional goals regarding the health and well-being of the Great Lakes as well as contributing to the national environmental and economic agenda. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you today. I look forward to working with you in the coming years.