resources

Risk assessments identify, evaluate, and estimate the level of risk of a potential invasive species or pathway. They are an important tool in invasive species management, and are used to inform, prevent, prioritize, and respond. 

The goal of these two databases is to provide a record of completed risk assessments relevant to North America. These assessments have been completed by a range of government and non-government organizations.

The Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species convened a Risk Assessment Ad Hoc Committee in 2016, with a charge to improve regional species and pathway risk assessment coordination, and to develop a scope of work for the development of a risk assessment clearinghouse. This clearinghouse includes summaries of risk assessments conducted throughout the Great Lakes region to improve access to risk assessment information and provide at-a-glance information about different risk assessment methodologies. 

The Governments of Canada and the United States are pleased to release the 2019 State of the Great Lakes Highlights Report, which provides an overview of the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Overall, Great Lakes water quality is assessed as “fair and unchanging.” While progress to restore and protect the Great Lakes has occurred, including the reduction of toxic chemicals, challenges cited in the report include invasive species and excess nutrients that contribute to toxic and nuisance algae. 

The Lake Superior Partnership will use this 2015 LAMP over the course of the next five years as a guide to identify, prioritize, and implement actions to restore and protect the Lake Superior ecosystem.

The Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) is intended to provide a status report on the health of the Lake Michigan ecosystem and a summary of the activities related to the Lake Michigan LaMP that have occurred during 2006-2008. Each chapter provides reports on current status, challenges, indicators, and next steps for a specific sub-goal area.

To guide the continuing efforts of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), federal agencies have drafted GLRI Action Plan II, which summarizes the actions that federal agencies plan to implement during FY15-19 using Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding. GLRI Action Plan II outlines the next phase of work on Great Lakes environmental problems and associated human health issues many of which will take decades to resolve.

The Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) is a binational action plan for restoring and protecting the Lake Erie ecosystem. The Lake Erie Partnership develops and implements the LAMP. U.S. EPA and Environment Canada lead the Partnership. This plan facilitates information sharing, sets priorities, and helps coordinate binational environmental protection and restoration activities.