March/April 1998
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March/April 1998 |
For International Joint Commission reports, dial (519)257-6734 or (313)226-2170 ext. 6734, or visit our website at http://www.ijc.org(.)
The International Joint Commission recently issued a report on the safety of dams in waterways crossing the U.S.-Canadian border. IJC has found that some dams and dykes are not subject to regular government inspections and does not know if all dams along the border are safe. The report lists recommendations for government action to protect people and property in the two countries. Copies of the report are available from IJC's Washington and Ottawa offices, as well as IJC's website at http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/safedam/unsafe.html/ (.)
Inventory of Radionuclides for the Great Lakes, is a report from IJC's Nuclear Task Force that quantifies and organizes information on the sources, levels, distributions, receptors and repositories of radioactivity in the Great Lakes. Copies are available from IJC's Washington and Ottawa offices, as well as IJC's website at http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/invrep/i ndex.htm(.)
On April 16, 1997, the Governments of Canada and the United States asked the International Joint Commission to provide proposals on how it might best assist them in meeting the environmental challenges of the 21st century. The IJC and the 21st Century is the documented response to that request. The potential of the IJC to serve the two governments in the coming century is examined and five specific proposals are presented. Copies are available from IJC's Washington and Ottawa offices, as well as IJC's website at http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/21ste.htm(.)
Fulfilling the Promise is a full-color poster portraying key moments and issues in the cooperative work undertaken during the first 25 years of the Great Lakes Water Qality Agreement is still available. The poster includes a timeline, photographs and historical narrative and is suited for nontechnical audiences and classroom use. Posters are available also in a french version (Vers une r‚alisation de nos engagements) and can be requested individually or in bulk orders free of charge by contacting the Great Lakes Regional Office at 100 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, ON N9A 6T3; (519) 257-6734; or P.O. Box 32869, Detroit, MI 48232-2869 (313) 226-2170 ext. 6734; email bondyd@ijc.wincom.net(.)
Living on the Edge: Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Shoreline is a 25-minute video telling about the relationship between humans and the vast waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River that come together at the shoreline. The system that provides us with desirable places to live and play also facilitated the economic development of the continent. However, our development of the shore is vulnerable to the forces of wind and waves. We have built massive projects to regulate water flows, but have found that there are limits to our ability to control the forces of nature. Produced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with assistance from the IJC and in consultation with Environment Canada, the story should engage a range of audiences from those who follow Great Lakes issues closely to those with a general interest in geography and environment. To obtain a copy, contact IJC's Washington or Ottawa office.
Discover the Great Lakes, a new CD-ROM has just been released by the Ontario Region of Environment Canada to complement and enhance the State of Canada's Environment report. Over 3000 hyperlinks are built in to guide the reader through hundreds of pages of scientific information, maps and graphs -- all enhanced by videos, music, narration and frog calls. Subject areas include ecosystems, toxic chemicals, endangered species, sustainability, natural resources and much more. A keyword search gives easy access to information. It also contains links to over 50 environmental websites. Other features include a glossary, quiz, library of various government reports and several wildlife fact sheets produced by Environment Canada. The retail price is $39.95 (Cdn) with a discounted price of $19.95 for educators. To obtain a copy, call or fax your order toll free to (888) 321-2563. For further information, contact Darrel Piekarz at (416) 739-5831.
Great Lakes Trends: A Dynamic Ecosystem produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Great Lakes, compiles information from numerous sources and inventories many of the past and emerging trends within the Great Lakes basin. The report is organized according to three major components of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem: chemical, physical and biological. Each subject section concludes by addressing new and emerging issues, and future directions for the Great Lakes' study. Copies can be obtained by faxing the request to the Department of Environmental Quality at (517) 335-4053; or email bredinj@state.mi.us(.)
Water Week, May 3-9, 1998, is an annual celebration of water resources and issues in New York State. As part of a long-term watershed outreach campaign, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) is preparing a packet of information materials to encourage New York teachers and youth group leaders to work with their students and group members to solve local watershed problems through action projects. The Taking Action in Your Community packets will be available in the spring of 1998 from NYDEC regional offices, Environmental Education Centers and from county Water Quality Coordinating Committees that can be contacted through your Soil and Water Conservation District office. For more information on obtaining copies, contact Watershed Outreach, NYDEC Division of Water, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12233-3508. (518) 457-8743.
The Great Lakes CD-ROM is the first release in the Caring for Planet Earth Series. It is an interactive, educational experience designed for young students ages 8+. Produced by the Center for Environmental Study with a team of scientists, educators and multimedia specialists, the CD-ROM explores critical environmental issues in an innovative and challenging game context. The player takes the role of eco-explorer and becomes responsible for preventing a future ecological disaster in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Problem-solving and decision-making activities are incorporated into the program, as well as a Curriculum Resource Guide with various activities and a glossary for educators and parents. For more information, or to purchase a copy at $39 (U.S.), contact Monica Rogers, associate director, Center for Environmental Study, Grand Rapids Community College, 143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. (616) 771-3968; fax (616) 771-4005; website http://www.cesmi.org(.)
The Software for Environmental Awareness team presents its first cross-platform programs: Household Waste Management and Mercury in Medical Facilities, both available on CD-ROM, and accessible from SEA's website. The Household Waste Management program teaches how to safely and efficiently manage waste, particularly hazardous waste, in the home. Users can visit a 'virtual house' and choose extended discussions of the many products they might encounter there. The Mercury in Medical Facilities program teaches health care professionals and others about the hazards of mercury as commonly used in medical facilities, especially hospitals and clinics. The program explains the impact of mercury on human health and the integrity of ecosystems. A 'virtual hospital' allows users to see sources of mercury and their alternatives. For more information on these or other upcoming releases or to download software, visit the SEAHOME website at http://www.epa.gov/seahome(.) For a free catalogue listing additional software for environmental awareness, contact Karen Reshkin, U.S. EPA - Region 5, P-19J, 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590. (312) 353-6353; email reshkin.-karen@epamail.epa.gov(.)
The Lake Superior Protected Area Managers Workgroup has been attempting to increase cooperation and improve understanding of the role of protected areas in the land-use mosaic of the Lake Superior watershed. The Human Dimension of the Lake Superior Basin: Sense of Place and Socioeconomic Studies in the Lake Superior Watershed and Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Protected Areas: A Survey of Lake Superior Decision-Makers are two reports now available electronically on a Lake Superior Ecosystem Management Website at http://www.nmu.edu/sbp/seminal.html. This site also contains a wide variety of cost-free services including links to the major protected areas in the Lake Superior basin and a wide array of environmental databases.
The first-ever report about the islands of the Great Lakes, State of the Great Lakes Islands, is based on a set of papers given at the recent binational Great Lakes Islands Workshop. The papers focus on biodiversity, conservation programs, biogeography studies, human culture, wilderness management issues and a variety of other topics. The project is funded by the Michigan Coastal Management Program and NOAA, and is housed in Michigan State University's Department of Resource Development. Copies of the report are available for $15 (U.S.), or an executive summary is available for no charge. Contact Karen Vigmostad at (517) 347-2652; email vigmo@pilot.msu.edu.
Revised: 7 April 1998
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net