1.	INTRODUCTION

The Council of Great Lakes Research Managers (the Council) is the International Joint Commission's (IJC) principal advisor on research programs and research needs. The Council undertook a number of activities in the 1997-99 biennial cycle, in accordance with identified priorities from the Commission. In addition, the Council scoped out a number of issues that will form the basis of future work by the Council, and advice to the IJC, and also supported some significant research activities.

1.1.	Council Priorities

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Research Inventory continues to be the most frequently accessed area on the IJC's web site, often recording 500 hits per month. This venue coupled with increased conference exhibits at Great Lakes events has generated considerable exposure and greater inventory use by both the science community and the general public, use which is expected to continue in an upward trend.

Modeling Summit sessions were held at two major Great Lakes conferences. The first was held at the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference 1998 (SOLEC'98) in Buffalo, New York, and focused on the linkages amongst ecosystem components. The second was held at the International Association for Great Lakes Research 1999 (IAGLR'99) in Cleveland, Ohio and centered on the application of models to Lake Erie management issues.

As a founding member of the Task Team responsible for establishing the Great Lakes Communicator Network, the Council held an inaugural workshop in March 1999 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The event was very successful and attended by communicators, managers, and scientists to develop a strategy for communicating research needs, gaps, and priorities using media, education, technology, and resource-sharing mechanisms.

1.2.	Scoping Activities

At its 27^th meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in an effort to prioritize our efforts and better advise/serve the Commissioners, the Council defined an activity called "scoping" whereby the Council would evaluate the current state of knowledge and research needs, gaps and priorities for issues/problems facing the region and evaluate their relevance to the IJC. During the 1997-1999 Priority Cycle this scoping activity was directed at seven IJC priority areas: sediment, indicators implementation, Lake Erie, commercial aquaculture, biodiversity and habitat, persistent toxic substances and endocrine disrupters, and Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) research. These are discussed more fully below.

The scoping of the biodiversity and habitat issue in particular, generated numerous recommendations from experts in support of preservation and enhancement. Additionally, a survey of 136 Great Lakes agencies and institutions was undertaken in June 1998 to gain a better understanding of organizational roles, responsibilities, and goals with a view to ensuring preservation of critical habitats, enhancing an ecosystem/ ecoregional management approach, developing effective legislation, and coordinating biodiversity research.

1.3.	Research Support Activities

In addition to the Research Inventory, the Council's research support activities were targeted at research vessel coordination and the development of a formal relationship and joint initiatives with the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR). Research vessel coordination workshops were held in March 1998 and in February 1999, premised on previously generated recommendations. Topics explored included communication and information sharing, institutional information requirements, and program development/coordination.

Two motions of significance involving joint initiatives with IAGLR were passed at the Council's 30^th meeting in Montreal. The first involved an annual donation of $1,000 used to conduct a survey of emerging research needs, and the second was aimed at engaging heads of major research laboratories/agencies in presenting their research activities, priorities, and future directions at each annual IAGLR conference.