Wetlands, Water Quality Focus of Feb. 25 Great Lakes Webinar

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus Is Kicking Off Its New Webinar

Series on Friday, Feb. 25 — Registration is Open for Legislators, Legislative Staff and All Great Lakes Leaders

Water Quality and Wetlands: What the Science Tells Us, and the Role of Public Policy

Date: Friday, February 25

Time: 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time/11:30 a.m. Central Time

Description: A part of the continuing work of GLLC members on how to manage and control nutrient runoff in the Great Lakes basin, this session will look at the important role of wetlands, and related policy initiatives, in improving water quality. It will include a presentation from Mark Dilley, a highly regarded wetland scientist and senior ecologist at The Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Other Upcoming Events in the GLLC Series

Great Lakes Policy Update: A Look Back to Key Developments in 2021 and Look Ahead to the Rest of 2022

Date: Friday, March 4

Time: 11 a.m. Eastern Time/10 a.m. Central Time

Description: With the help of Marc Smith, director of Great Lakes policy for the National Wildlife Federation, GLLC members and other participants will explore recent new laws, investments and legislative proposals related to the caucus’s policy agenda.

Climate Resiliency: New Opportunities for Great Lakes States and Coastal Communities

Date: Friday, March 11

Time: 11 a.m. Eastern Time/10 a.m. Central Time

Description: Lawmakers are increasingly recognizing the need to help local communities plan for the impacts of climate change — for example, flooding, strains on water infrastructure systems, and greater fluctuations in water levels in the Great Lakes region. This web session will explore some new policy opportunities for states to make coastal communities more climate resilient.

Plastics in the Great Lakes: An Update on the Science and Discussions on Future Cleanup Efforts

Date: Friday, March 18

Time: 2 p.m. Eastern Time/1 p.m. Central Time

Description: Dr. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry and leading researcher on plastic pollution, continues to conduct groundbreaking research on the prevalence of plastics and micro-plastics in the Great Lakes. She will join the GLLC for this web session on plastic pollution, its impact on the Great Lakes ecosystem and human health, and strategies to clean up the lakes. Mason serves as director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend.

About the GLLC and the New Webinar Series

These web sessions are related to the policy agenda of the Great Lakes–St Lawrence Legislative Caucus — a binational, nonpartisan group of state and provincial legislators. Sessions are free and open to everyone. They are designed for state and provincial legislators, legislative staff, and other leaders in Great Lakes policy.

The work of the GLLC is led by an Executive Committee of legislators from the Great Lakes basin and its two officers: Illinois Rep. Robyn Gabel, chair; and Minnesota Rep. Jennifer Schultz, vice chair.

The GLLC’s mission is to strengthen the role of state and provincial legislators in the regional, national and binational policymaking process by providing a forum to exchange good practices, ideas and opportunities, as well as by advancing legislation to promote the restoration, protection, economy and sustainable use of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River for current residents and future generations.

The Midwestern Office of The Council of State Governments provides staff support to the GLLC and its members.