The International Upper Great Lakes Study (IUGLS) is holding public meetings this summer in the United States and Canada to provide information regarding the status of the second and final phase of its work, examining Great Lakes water levels. Those who attend the meetings will have an opportunity to hear from Study Board members and researchers about preliminary findings and potential regulation plans. Those who are unable to attend, or have further comments, can submit them via a form on the IUGLS website, and by e-mail or via traditional mail. The comment period for this Phase 2 portion of the Study begins Monday, July 18, and ends Wednesday, August 31, 2011.

A list of meetings in the U.S. and Canada follows, along with information on what will be presented, how to download copies of a Progress Report that will be handed out, and how to submit formal comments. A full map, with meeting locations, dates and times is available at www.iugls.org .

In the United States, public meetings will be completed in the next two weeks ending August 9^th at the Yellowjacket Union (www.uwsuper.edu/yu) on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

In Canada, the public meetings are just starting and will be held at six locations in Ontario:

    Aug. 2, from 7-9 p.m. at Lambton College (www.lambton.on.ca ), Room A223, 1457 London Road, in Sarnia;

    Aug. 3, from 7-9 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion (www.legion.ca ), Normandy Room, 490 Ontario St., in Collingwood;

    Aug. 4, from 7-9 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 196 Queen St., in Midland;

    Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Park Center, Main Hall, 39 Henry Drive, in Kagawong (Manitoulin Island);

    Aug. 10, from 7-9 p.m. at Lakehead University (www.lakeheadu.ca ), ATAC Room, 955 Oliver Road, in Thunder Bay; and,

    Aug. 11, from 7-9 p.m. at Algoma University (www.algomau.ca ), Great West Life Theatre, 1520 Queen Street East, in Sault Ste. Marie.

During the meetings in the U.S. and Canada, overview presentations will be given regarding Phase 2 of the Study. Topics to be covered include:

    The potential to improve the regulation plan for Lake Superior outflows at Sault Ste. Marie;

    The need for ongoing monitoring to allow for adaptive management;

    An exploratory analysis of restoration scenarios for Lake Michigan-Huron water levels;

    New data on potential climate change impacts for the Great Lakes;

    A discussion of the ongoing impacts of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment; and,

    Multi-lake regulation options.

You can download a copy of a Progress Report that addresses these issues at www.iugls.org/Docs/progress_report_summer_2011_final.pdf

You can download a copy of a Public Meeting Presentation at www.iugls.org/Docs/public-presentation/272/book.html

The comment form is available online at www.iugls.org/comment.asp.

Comments can also be sent by e-mail to info@iugls.org . Please indicate “Phase 2 comments” in the subject line of your e-mail.

Comments can be sent via traditional mail to (In Canada):

International Upper Great Lakes Study

234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K6

Or, in the U.S.:

International Upper Great Lakes Study

P.O. Box 32869

Detroit, MI 48232

Please also indicate “Phase 2 comments” at the top of your letter.

The Study Board is working with a Public Interest Advisory Group (PIAG) to bring a wide range of perspectives to the study process, including those of shoreline property owners, boaters, anglers, governments, Native Americans, First Nations, hydroelectric power producers, and environmental and shipping organizations.

Input received at the public meetings and during the public comment period will help inform the drafting of a final, peer-reviewed Phase 2 report to be submitted to the International Joint Commission (IJC) in March 2012. After that time, the IJC may hold its own public consultation on the Phase 2 report before making any recommendations to the U.S. and Canadian governments.