Great Lakes Policies and Hydrospheric and Atmospheric Research Needs

Abstract

Public policies in the Great Lakes have traditionally developed in an ad hoc manner as specific issues occurred. Recently, the transboundary pollution problems have caused this historical approach to become inadequate. Key policy issues now are acid rain, water quality, and lake levels and quantity. These policy issues were examined to help define research needs in the atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences so as to help resolve future policy issues. However, policy development and in‐depth documentation of policies are needed for the Great Lakes to enable development of sound research agenda.