Assessing the role of integrated research and monitoring tools in remediation efforts at Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin areas of cencern: A case study of the Cornwall remedial action plan
Loading...
Authors
Berquist, Michelle
Date
2010-10-29T19:08:49Z
Type
thesis
Language
en
Keyword
remedial action plan , Cornwall , remediation
Alternative Title
Abstract
In accordance with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the governments of Canada and
the United States have agreed to support the remediation of 43 Areas of Concern (AOC) where
“failure [to meet objectives of the agreement] has caused or is likely to cause impairment of
beneficial use or of the area’s ability to support aquatic life.” A Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
has been created for each AOC that outlines how impairments are to be addressed. This research
report is focused on one such plan, the Bay of Quinte RAP, as a case study to explore the impact
of communicating research and monitoring on realizing the aims of the policy. Research
included a literature review encompassing existing works about Great Lakes RAPs and the Bay
of Quinte watershed, semi-structured interviews with project leaders and community
stakeholders and attendance at a research and monitoring forum. Findings indicate that tracking
trends, valuing monitoring, promoting stakeholder cooperation, collaborating with other RAPs
and informing management and decision making are key outcomes of shared science at the Bay
of Quinte. Lessons learned are instructive for any groups conducting ecosystem restoration or
management programs, particularly those involved in any of the 40 other RAPs still underway on
the Great Lakes.
Description
ENSC 501: Environmental Studies Independent Study; April 2009