A critical Great Lakes program is at risk of being eliminated by federal budget cuts. Vitally important to science and society, the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) could shrink or vanish if proposals in Washington, D.C., become reality.
And that would be a major blow to our ability to understand and protect the Great Lakes.
“GLOS delivers real-time data that protect drinking water, support storm readiness, and ensure safe maritime commerce,” says Dr. Jennifer Boehme, the CEO of GLOS. “Fresh water is a critical input for agriculture, industry, and energy production, and access to safe and reliable drinking water is essential for public health and safety. Through GLOS, water treatment plant managers have access to real-time, in-lake information and customizable alerts that inform their treatment decisions for the best possible outcome.”
The threat to GLOS is part of a larger proposal to eliminate funding for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), of which GLOS is a part. Housed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) budget, IOOS has an annual budget of approximately $42.5 million.The NOAA IOOS program supplied GLOS about $3.3 million last year.
Mapping the lakebed (PHOTO: GLOS)
That funding supports information shared from more than 250 buoys, towers, and a high-frequency radar system in the Straits of Mackinac which helps map the speed and direction of currents, aiding vessel traffic and improving emergency response. The data generated by GLOS are used by anglers, beachgoers, and others.
GLOS also measures nutrient pollution entering the Maumee River, a major contributor to algae blooms on western Lake Erie.
Studies have shown each dollar invested in IOOS and ocean and Great Lakes observing provides about a five-dollar return on investment through data products.
Boehme says, “The proposed cuts would significantly limit the ability of GLOS to partner with the private sector to fill critical mapping data gaps and support the bipartisan Great Lakes Mapping Act, which aims to fully map the lakefloor of the world’s largest freshwater system. Mapping the lakebed is the next frontier for GLOS — it’s essential for emergency response, water quality protection, navigation and economic development.”
PHOTO: NOAA
IOOS data also supports:
- The U.S. Coast Guard, via high frequency radar for search and rescue;
- Ports and vessel pilots, through wave, wind, and water level data for safe navigation — e.g., from the Port of Duluth across Lake Superior;
- Flood forecasting, with surface current and wave data for National Weather Service offices;
- Water treatment and public health, via real-time harmful algal bloom alerts for plant operators and Great Lakes recreators.
- Approximately 11 million meteorological observations that IOOS regions provide to the National Weather Service annually via the global telecommunications system (GTS), thus deteriorating weather forecasts nationally.
Here’s how you can speak out in support of GLOS:
- Contact your congressional representative and send them a letter of support for IOOS and GLOS as soon as possible. Let them know how important this public service is to you and your family and that without it, lives could be lost.
- Here is a letter template (PDF) for guidance.
- You can copy and paste the letter into this form, for easy contact.
