Great Lakes Information Network

Great Lakes Information Network
Name	Great Lakes Information Network
Formation	1990
Type	Nonprofit partnership
Headquarters	Ann Arbor, Michigan
Region served	Great Lakes Basin

Great Lakes Information Network

The Great Lakes Information Network is a regional nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that serves the Great Lakes basin through information sharing, mapping, and partnership coordination. It connects stakeholders across the United States and Canada including state and provincial agencies, tribal governments, academic institutions, and environmental groups to support resource management, policy development, and public outreach. The network collaborates with entities such as the Great Lakes Commission, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to disseminate data, promote conservation, and facilitate cross-border initiatives.

History

The network was established in 1990 amid growing binational attention to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the work of organizations like the International Joint Commission and the Great Lakes Commission. Early partners included the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, and provincial collaborators such as Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s it expanded in parallel with efforts by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and initiatives responding to invasive species like zebra mussel and sea lamprey. The network’s archives reflect collaborations tied to events like the Binational Toxics Strategy and policy milestones including amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1987).

Mission and activities

The network’s mission emphasizes support for sustainable management of the Great Lakes Basin through information, outreach, and partnership. Core activities align with priorities of entities such as the Council of Great Lakes Governors, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Services include compilation of datasets used by researchers at institutions like Purdue University, University at Buffalo, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Wayne State University; provision of mapping tools used by agencies like the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; and dissemination of news relevant to stakeholders such as the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, and tribal bodies like the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Organization and governance

The network is governed through a board and advisory structure that includes representatives from state and provincial agencies, academic partners, and tribal organizations such as the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. Institutional partners have included research centers like the Graham Sustainability Institute and museums like the Field Museum of Natural History. Funding and oversight have involved regional entities including the Great Lakes Commission and federal agencies such as the United States Geological Survey and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The governance model reflects cooperation among cross-border institutions like the International Joint Commission and regional coalitions such as the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Programs and projects

Major program areas have spanned information clearinghouse functions, geospatial mapping initiatives, invasive species tracking, and restoration tracking tied to projects funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Clean Water Act (United States). Project collaborations have included work with the Great Lakes Observing System, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, and universities such as Michigan Technological University and Cleveland State University. The network supports searchable portals and thematic pages on topics ranging from habitat restoration associated with the Chicago Area Waterway System to contaminants monitoring related to the Ashtabula River and remediations under the Superfund program. Educational outreach partners have included the Shedd Aquarium, the Great Lakes Science Center, and tribal education programs connected to the Anishinaabe communities.

Partnerships and funding

Partnerships span federal agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, provincial ministries such as the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and regional authorities including the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. Funding sources have included grants from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, contributions from the Great Lakes Protection Fund, and contracts with state agencies such as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and foundations like the Marisla Foundation. Collaborative grant projects have involved research funding to institutions like Cornell University, University of Toronto, and McMaster University, and programmatic cooperation with nonprofits including The Nature Conservancy and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Impact and reception

The network has been cited by academic publications from institutions like University of Michigan and University of Windsor for its role in facilitating data access for studies on water quality, invasive species, and fisheries. Its mapping and resource pages are used by municipal planners in jurisdictions such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Toronto and by tribal natural resource departments including the Bay Mills Indian Community. Evaluations by regional stakeholders have pointed to strengths in convening partners noted by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Council of Great Lakes Industries, while reviews by conservation NGOs such as Friends of the Chicago River and Alliance for the Great Lakes have highlighted opportunities for increased user engagement and technical modernization.

Category:Great Lakes