About the Network
What Is It?
The Great Lakes Clean Communities Network (GLCCN), funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF), is a multi-partner effort led by the Institute of Water Research (IWR) at Michigan State University (MSU) to create a community of environmental practitioners throughout the Great Lakes. The GLCCN is a web-based community currently being developed to link and empower cities and organizations around the Great Lakes to more effectively implement programs to improve the ecological health in their watersheds, community, and the Great Lakes Basin. The primary goal of this effort is to establish a long-term sustainable network of practitioners and leaders who will share their experiences, successes, tools, and websites with each other. Through the GLCCN, individuals can become better equipped to address environmental problems with tools, technology, and shared ideas.
The Great Lakes Clean Communities Network (GLCCN), funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF), is a multi-partner effort led by the Institute of Water Research (IWR) at Michigan State University (MSU) to create a community of environmental practitioners throughout the Great Lakes. The GLCCN is a web-based community currently being developed to link and empower cities and organizations around the Great Lakes to more effectively implement programs to improve the ecological health in their watersheds, community, and the Great Lakes Basin. The primary goal of this effort is to establish a long-term sustainable network of practitioners and leaders who will share their experiences, successes, tools, and websites with each other. Through the GLCCN, individuals can become better equipped to address environmental problems with tools, technology, and shared ideas.
Bridging The Tools and Technology Gap For Communities
Over the past few decades, communities, government, and organizations have made great progress toward increasing awareness of environmental issues and improving ecological health in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Compact and Michigan’s subsequent Water Withdrawal Assessment Process, ballast water regulations for invasive species, TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) implementation, and storm water regulatory actions are just a few significant measures to help improve the Great Lakes. However, in spite of these great strides toward improvement, overwhelming problems still exist. While research efforts continue to address these problems, new technology and social communication trends present new opportunities to further address and ultimately improve ecological health in the Great Lakes.
Recently IWR has become more aware of the knowledge, tools, and technology gaps between university learning centers, communities, and environmental groups. Through previous work funded by the GLPF, MSU performed multiple interviews with communities and environmental groups which revealed a lack of awareness and availability of environmental tools and technology for identifying best management strategies and reporting ecological benefits such as pollutant load reductions through nonpoint source pollution reduction practices, and improved fish habitat through groundwater recharge and reduced impervious surface. More recently, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) also recognizes the value of bridging these gaps. These needs are summarized into three categories:
Throughout the Great Lakes Basin, decisions and practices that change local ecological health are generally made within the community or local environmental group. Increasing the ease of accessibility, know-how, and tools available to these communities and groups increases the ability to implement practices, evaluate tool effectiveness, and improve their local ecology. It is the accumulation of these communities implementing practices and environmental programs through the Great Lakes Basin that overall improves water quality, fish habitat, and ecological health. The Great Lakes Clean Communities Network will enhance the capacity of communities to address these concerns and assess the cumulative impacts of implemented practices.
Over the past few decades, communities, government, and organizations have made great progress toward increasing awareness of environmental issues and improving ecological health in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Compact and Michigan’s subsequent Water Withdrawal Assessment Process, ballast water regulations for invasive species, TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) implementation, and storm water regulatory actions are just a few significant measures to help improve the Great Lakes. However, in spite of these great strides toward improvement, overwhelming problems still exist. While research efforts continue to address these problems, new technology and social communication trends present new opportunities to further address and ultimately improve ecological health in the Great Lakes.
Recently IWR has become more aware of the knowledge, tools, and technology gaps between university learning centers, communities, and environmental groups. Through previous work funded by the GLPF, MSU performed multiple interviews with communities and environmental groups which revealed a lack of awareness and availability of environmental tools and technology for identifying best management strategies and reporting ecological benefits such as pollutant load reductions through nonpoint source pollution reduction practices, and improved fish habitat through groundwater recharge and reduced impervious surface. More recently, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) also recognizes the value of bridging these gaps. These needs are summarized into three categories:
- Online systems or tools for communities to engage their citizens and decision-makers
- Tools for improving the ecological health of cities and watersheds in the Great Lakes Basin
- Connections with pilot programs and other communities to share successes and challenges for achieving ecosystem health
Throughout the Great Lakes Basin, decisions and practices that change local ecological health are generally made within the community or local environmental group. Increasing the ease of accessibility, know-how, and tools available to these communities and groups increases the ability to implement practices, evaluate tool effectiveness, and improve their local ecology. It is the accumulation of these communities implementing practices and environmental programs through the Great Lakes Basin that overall improves water quality, fish habitat, and ecological health. The Great Lakes Clean Communities Network will enhance the capacity of communities to address these concerns and assess the cumulative impacts of implemented practices.