This document provides an overview of an integrated assessment being conducted to analyze options for adapting to variability in Great Lakes water levels. The assessment will: 1) Integrate policy context, stakeholder perspectives, and insights from multiple disciplines to analyze causes and possible solutions to water level changes. 2) Inform decisions by building consensus on environmentally, socially, economically, and politically feasible policy options and management actions that various groups can take. 3) Use a place-based and regionally-minded approach, evaluating specific options for local areas while also identifying opportunities across the Great Lakes regions.

1. An Assessment…
Or a review and analysis of research and
data related to a specific issue.
That Integrates…
• Policy or management context
• Diverse stakeholder perspectives
• Several disciplines
• An analysis of causes and possible
solutions
In order to….
• Build consensus
• Inform decisions
Integrated Assessment

2. • Guiding Question:
What environmentally, socially, politically, and economically
feasible policy options and management actions can people,
businesses, and governments implement in order to adapt to
current and future variability in Great Lakes water levels?
• Key Impact Areas:
- Infrastructure - Shoreline economies - Nearshore &
- Water Quality - Recreation & Tourism Shoreland Habitat
Water Levels Integrated Assessment

3. • Place-based
– Evaluate specific, integrated, and feasible options
– Engage local stakeholders
– Build the local ownership
• Regionally-minded
– Identify opportunities for the wide variety of shorelines
and issues throughout Lakes Michigan-Huron and Erie
basins
Water Levels Integrated Assessment

4. Multi-Sector Advisory Committee
 Jon Allan, Director, Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
 John Allis, Chief, Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office, US Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District
 Mark Breederland, Extension Educator, Northwest District, Michigan Sea Grant
 Matthew Child, Deputy Director, International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office
 Gene Clark, Coastal Engineering Specialist, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
 John Coluccy, Director of Conservation Planning, Ducks Unlimited
 Patrick Doran, Director of Conservation for Michigan, The Nature Conservancy
 Bonnie Fox, Manager of Policy and Planning, Conservation Ontario
 Gail Hesse, Great Lakes Water Program Director, National Wildlife Federation
 Erin Kuhn, Executive Director, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission
 Wendy Leger, Physical Science Senior Officer, Environment Canada
 Scudder D. Mackey, Chief, Office of Coastal Management, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
 David Powers, Attorney, Smith, Martin, Powers & Knier; Save our Shoreline
 Larry J. Robson, Board Chair, Great Lakes Coalition
 Ana Sirviente, Program Development Director, Council of Great Lakes Industries
 David Sweetnam, Executive Director, Georgian Bay Forever
 Kathy Tank, President, Wisconsin Harbor Towns Association

5. Planning
Grants
• March – August 2015: Planning grant teams explore feasibility of an
IA in a specific location & prepare summary reports
IA
Phase 1
• November 2015 – April 2016: 4 analysis teams each provide an
interdisciplinary overview synthesis and report of status, trends,
causes, and consequences
IA
Phase 2
• May 2016 – October 2016: With stakeholder input, each analysis
team develops a report analyzing viable policies and adaptive actions
IA
Phase 3
• November 2016 – April 2017: Analysis teams work together with
Graham personnel to develop a final comprehensive IA report of
select options
Water Levels Integrated Assessment (IA) Timeline