SOLEC  2OOO         SOLEC 2OOO         SOLEC  2OOO
As Parties to the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement, the governments of Canada and
the United States are responsible for accurate
reporting on the state of the Great Lakes.
The State of the Lakes Ecosystem
Conference is a result of this commitment to
reporting. With the establishment of a
consistent suite of ecosystem indicators, the
health of the Great Lakes basin can be
objectively assessed.  Regular reporting of a
core set of indicators will promote more
efficient and successful management as well as
creating more accessible information for
policy makers and the public.

The first two conferences in 1994 and 1996
developed a series of ad hoc indicators to
evaluate the state of various Great Lakes
ecosystem components.  SOLEC 98 went
beyond the previous  SOLECs and presented a
comprehensive list of ecosystem indicators for
review and discussion.  This suite  of
indicators objectively represents the state of
the Lakes while establishing consistent
biennial reporting.

SOLEC 2000 will begin to assess the state of
the Great Lakes using the indicators.  Future
SOLECs will report on the complete suite of
indicators.  SOLEC 2000 will examine the
human health issues of swimmability,
drinkability and fishability, and will explore the
development and use of ecological indices.
 Steering Committee members represent a wide
variety of agencies from around the Great Lakes:
  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

       Council of Great Lakes Industries

            Environment Canada

           Great Lakes Commission

        Great Lakes Fishery Commission

             Great Lakes States

             Great Lakes United

        International Joint Commission

  Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

       Ontario Ministry of Environment

      Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

            Tribes/First Nations

      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

         U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

           U.S. Geological Survey


  There are  many other individuals and representatives
    from environmental groups, academia and local
    governments who have participated in the work
       necessary to develop this conference.
IMPLEMENTING INDICATORS
For additional information please contact:
Office of Regional Science Advisor
Environment Canada - Ont. Region
4905 Dufferin St.
Downsview, Ontario M3H 5T4
ph: 416-739-5760
fax: 416-739-4691
e-mail: alison.bloom@ec.gc.ca
Great Lakes National Program Office
US EPA
77 West Jackson Blvd.,
Chicago, IL 60604
ph: 312-353-2087
fax:312-353-2018
e-mail: madden.molly@epa.gov
 October  17, 18, &  19, 2000
Hamilton  Convention  Centre
       Hamilton,  Ontario
                                                           Hosted by:

                                                   Environment Canada
                                                              &
                                              United States Environmental
                                                    Protection Agency

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       Monday October 16, 2000
  An evening reception will take place in the
    Heritage Room of the Sheraton Hamilton
                   Hotel
   Hors d'oeuvres & refreshments provided
  Sponsored by Great Lakes Commission
 DAY ONE - Tuesday October 1 7, 2000
Morning
PLENARY: State of the Great Lakes

8:30   Welcome/Opening Ceremonies/Native
       Greetings

       SOLEC Past and Future

       State of the Great Lakes: assessment
        using indicators for the following groupings:
       *  nearshore and open waters
       *  coastal wetlands
       *  nearshore terrestrial and land use
       *  societal
       *  human health
             beach closures
             drinking  water
             fish  contaminants

       Great  Lakes Index Concept

Lunch and Guest Speaker

Afternoon
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: In-depth
Discussions About the State of the Great
Lakes. What are the indicators telling us?

       Concurrent Sessions 1

       Concurrent Sessions 2

5:30   Adjourn

5:30 - 7:30 Poster Session and Mixer
Morning
PLENARY: Putting Indicators to Use at the
Local Level

8:30   Recap of Day 1 & Overview of Day 2

       Biodiversity Investment Area Integration

       Putting Indicators to Use: case studies and
       presentations by local groups

       Success Stories: highlights of projects by
       award  receipients

Lunch

Afternoon
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Indicator Toolbox.
Opportunity to gather more information on the case studies
(examples of issues to be discussed: easements, ecological
restoration, volunteer monitoring programs, indicators at the
local level, fundraising, how to change  local governance
(zoning), how to keep public interest, CIS approach, industry
and community partnerships)

3:00   Adjourn

3:30   Fun Run/Walk and Excursions

Evening
DINNER: Sheraton Hamilton Hotel

6:00   Cash Bar Opens

7:00   SHEMO
       Recognition of Success Stories
       Dinner
       Guest Speaker
                                                  DAY THREE  - Thursday October 19, 2000
Morning
PLENARY: Lake Ecosystem Status Reports

8:30   Recap Day 2 & Overview Day 3

       Lake Presentations

Lunch

Afternoon
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Cross-cutting Great
Lakes Issues & Lake Sessions.
An opportunity to look at each lake in more detail or to
participate in special topic sessions.

PLENARY: Commencement

       Conference Wrap Up

       Native Closing

3:30   SOLEC 2000 Adjourns

3:30-5:30 Meeting rooms available
              Please note:
    Registration  to take place on
   Mon. Oct. 16, 6:30pm-9:00pm, or
    Tues. Oct. 17,  7:30am-12noon
   in the Convention Centre lobby.

For further information on SOLEC visit our web site
                     at
        http://www.cciw.ca/solec/
   http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/solec/

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