Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog: Great Lakes

2012 GLRI funding

2011-12-30T04:14:19Z

Congress approved $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2012. It also authorized $533 million in low-interest loans for Great Lakes states to address combined sewer overflows. The National Wildlife Federation called it "a significant victory for fish, wildlife and the Great Lakes," while an editorial in Toledo's Blade said "it's not enough, even in a period of fiscal austerity."

Update: a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial adds that it "sounds like a substantial sum, but it's not enough, even in a period of fiscal austerity."

USDA GLRI grants

2011-11-19T04:38:02Z

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $3.7 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants, including a $73,040 award to the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization to restore forests damaged by the invasive emerald ash borer.

Kasich's first veto

2011-07-19T03:50:18Z

Under pressure by officials from inside and outside Ohio, Governor Kasich vetoed the Great Lakes Compact implementation bill passed by the General Assembly. In a statement (PDF), he said that portions of the bill "must be improved." It was his first veto as governor. Editorials in the Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal supported his decision, while Tom Henry found the entire episode embarrassing. The bill's sponsors said they would seek to override the veto.

Update: participants on Tuesday's Sound of Ideas program discussed the legislation.

Update 2: Brent Larkin said that "although Kasich's veto will not be overridden, this isn't the end of it."

Implementation of the Great Lakes Compact

2011-07-14T03:49:06Z

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, a new report from the National Wildlife Federation, looks at state implementation of the Great Lakes Compact. It focuses on three areas: water diversions, conservation and efficiency, and water withdrawal permitting. The Plain Dealer again urges Governor Kasich to veto the Ohio bill.

Update: the Detroit News, Morning Journal, and Kristy Meyer of the Ohio Environmental Council also call for a veto. New York officials dislike the bill, too.

Ohio Senate approves Compact bill

2011-06-30T03:57:37Z

By a vote of 25-8, the Ohio Senate passed a Great Lakes Compact implementation bill. The Ohio House approved the legislation last week. Its protections are the weakest of any Great Lakes state.

Update: editorials in the Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal editorial encourage Governor Kasich to veto the bill. The Ohio Environmental Council and Andy Buchsbaum of the National Wildlife Federation are also critical of the bill. Governor Kasich is expected to sign the bill in the next two weeks.

Update 2: Great Lakes Echo analyzed the situation, while a Detroit Free Press editorial objects to the bill and a Plain Dealer editorial says it could lead to an increase in toxic blue-green algae.

Local impacts of climate change

2011-06-24T03:53:35Z

A new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists identified Ohio as one of ten states likely to see significant increases in respiratory problems from rising ozone levels associated with global warming. Meanwhile, Jeff Opperman of the Nature Conservancy expanded upon his earlier premise that ranked Cleveland as the city least vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rust Wire's Kate Giammarise interviewed Al Douglas of the Ontario Centre for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Resources about its effects on the Great Lakes.

Lake Erie legislation advances

2011-06-24T03:52:45Z

In a party-line vote, the Ohio House passed the Republican-backed Great Lakes Compact implementation bill. The Ohio Senate is now considering the legislation, and former Governor Bob Taft testified against it in a committee hearing.

Update: George Voinovich and Sam Speck also oppose the bill. Editorials in the Plain Dealer, Blade, Akron Beacon Journal, Repository, Dayton Daily News, and Morning Journal urge Ohio senators to vote no.

Second Compact implementation bill

2011-06-19T03:38:01Z

Democratic lawmakers introduced alternative bills for implementing the Great Lakes Compact in Ohio. The legislation sets lower limits on the amount of water that can be extracted from Lake Erie than the bills introduced last month by Republican legislators. Environmental groups support the lower limits and business groups back the higher limits (PDF). An editorial in Toledo's Blade says that the Republican-backed bills "would threaten surface and ground water affecting Lake Erie."

Meanwhile, an Akron Beacon Journal editorial calls for bipartisan congressional support of full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Update: the Blade published more information about the fast-tracked Republican bill. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial encourages a bipartisan approach.

Ohio legislation concerns neighboring states

2011-05-28T03:41:50Z

Environmental advocates in other Great Lakes states are worried about the proposed Lake Erie water withdrawal limits recently introduced in the Ohio General Assembly. The proposed limits provide less protection than those established by other states.

Update: the proposal is also receiving criticism within Ohio.

Update 2: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the legislation "fails to meet the compact's spirit and letter," and Gary Wilson of the Biodiversity Project cites it as an example of the region's failure to protect the Great Lakes.

Update 3: a Plain Dealer editorial strongly opposes the bills.

Compact authorization legislation

2011-05-14T03:47:02Z

Two Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would implement the Great Lakes Compact in Ohio. The enabling legislation includes limits on water withdrawals from Lake Erie. Industry groups support the bill, but environmental advocates say that it provides insufficient protection.

GLRI funding level

2011-04-14T03:58:26Z

The fiscal year 2011 federal budget compromise includes $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Update: Great Lakes advocates said that the agreement represents a significant achievement.

Great Lakes water quality report

2011-03-12T04:58:53Z

The International Joint Commission issued its 15th Biennial Report (PDFs: full document, executive summary). It features 32 recommendations for federal, state, provincial, and local governments in the United States and Canada, and urges the two nations to approve a revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Among the issues it highlights are increased eutrophication caused by excessive nutrient levels and water quality problems at recreational beaches.

Federal budget implications

2011-02-18T04:51:29Z

President Obama's proposed 2012 budget could have a number of local impacts.

As anticipated, it calls for reducing funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to $350 million. House Republicans proposed reducing 2011 funding to $225 million.
Municipalities would be affected by a proposed 7.5% reduction in Community Development Block Grant funding.
Unlike many programs that would experience cuts, federal investment in transportation would rise. Ohio would receive a one-year 74% increase in highway planning and construction dollars.

Funding for many urban development, environmental, and historic preservation programs would also be reduced.

Update: Great Lakes advocates are urging Congress to restore funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. A Plain Dealer editorial says that the Great Lakes congressional delegation "must join together, in a bipartisan manner, to preserve" the program.

GLRI funding cuts

2011-02-10T04:17:01Z

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew wrote that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be among the federal programs targeted for funding cuts in President Obama's proposed 2012 budget. Congress has not yet approved the 2011 budget, and could make further reductions in spending. Great Lakes advocates continue to support the initiative.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial said that it's "an example of how misguided the budget debate has become", while Tom Henry said that "if the lakes are to ever reach their potential, there's got to be more than just money."

Great Lakes Compact implementation

2010-12-19T04:53:39Z

The Ohio Great Lakes Compact Advisory Board issued its final report (PDF, 9.8 MB) on Wednesday. The Ohio General Assembly is expected to consider the report's recommendations in 2011. The Ohio Environmental Council called it (PDF) "a critical first step toward preserving one of Ohio's greatest natural resources."