Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Summary of Discussion for 159^th Meeting
By Teleconference
November 29, 2004

3.0 Review of Minutes and Action Items

Gannon noted that the Health Professionals Task Force was established to provide advice to the Commission on human health issues. It is formed under the auspices of the Boundary Waters Treaty and provides advice across the entire U.S. and Canadian Border, not just the Great Lakes. Jim Houston in the IJC Ottawa Office is the Secretary to the Task Force with Kay Austin as liaison from the IJC Washington Office. Information on the Task Force's mandate and ongoing activities can be obtained at www.ijc.org and click on "Boards", then click on Health Professionals Task Force.

Action Item: Develop a briefing and proposal to the WQB on how WQB might best interact with the Human Health Task Force on addressing human health issues within the context of the Agreement and its review.

4.0 Advice on Review of the GLWQA

4.1 Watershed Approaches Workshop

Gannon proposed, and there was concurrence, to hold the workshop at the Eagle Crest Conference Center located near Ypsilanti, Michigan just off I-94 west of Detroit Metro Airport. The second week of March was discussed as the best time for the workshop, thereby avoiding conflicts with other meetings and the winter-early spring school breaks in both countries.

Action Item: Formalize workshop logistics of time and location.

Since the main objective of the workshop is to obtain information pertinent to the Agreement review, an invitation-only rather than an open public meeting was deemed desirable to keep the attendance sufficiently small for dialogue and exchange. It was considered important to invite a wide cross-section of individuals from throughout the Great Lakes basin to obtain good representation of the various watershed planning approaches that are underway.

Action Item: Send list of suggested invitees including contact information to Gannon by COB Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004.

The second draft of the survey questionnaire was discussed. This will be the vehicle for obtaining information in advance of the workshop. Gannon noted that a cover letter form the WQB will accompany the questionnaire that will explain the purpose of the questionnaire and the workshop. It was suggested that the letter include what we mean by "linkages" between watershed planning and Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs). The cover letter should also encourage flexibility in responding with a single questionnaire from each jurisdiction or multiple survey responses, as necessary. Similarly, the questionnaire is designed for rapid response by mostly checking boxes, but respondents should be encouraged to add narrative if they wish.

Action Item: Revise draft questionnaire and circulate to the Board for review and comment by COB Friday, December 10, 2004.

4.3 Documentation of Agreement History

Gannon reported that based on the discussions at the last WQB meeting, the Great Lakes Regional Office staff are compiling a bibliography of the Agreement history. The intent is to have the bibliography available for the Agreement review. The bibliography would be preceded by a concise report of Agreement history and the main issues involved its initial signing in 1972 and for subsequent revisions in 1978 and revisions by Protocol in 1987.

Action Item: Continue to develop report and bibliography on the Agreement history.

5.0 WQB Priorities and 2005 Biennial Meeting Update

Gannon briefed the Board on his proposal to organize a workshop at the 2005 Biennial Meeting in Kingston, Ontario on ecosystem integrity. He suggested that the workshop be co-sponsored by the WQB and the Lake Erie Millennium Network. Although the workshop would not be limited to Lake Erie, it is recognized that most of the recent data on how chemical, physical, and biological issues are interacting in complex ways is from Lake Erie.

There was concurrence with WQB co-sponsorship proceeding with workshop planning. There was some concern expressed that ecological integrity cannot be addressed without a socio-economic integrity context. Socio-economics were considered important but could be adequately addressed within the three-hour workshop. The Board may wish to consider the ecological integrity workshop as Phase I and later address socio-economic integrity as Phase II.

Action Item: Continue to develop the ecological integrity workshop with sub-group.

There was no new development to report since the last WQB meeting on the other 2003-2005 the WQB workplan items i.e., (liaison with the Science Advisory Board on human health and land use). The Annex 2 workgroup also has not met since the last meeting. However, the group does want to continue emphasis on improving communications between the Board and RAP practitioners. In that context, Gannon suggested a WQB public consultation with the Bay of Quinte RAP as part of its meeting scheduled on June 8, 2004 in conjunction with the IJC Biennial Meeting in Kingston.

Action Item: Proceed with pre-planning for the June 8, 2005 WQB meeting to include consultation with the Bay of Quinte RAP.