the importance of establishing a permanent trust fund for great lakes research

J. Great Lakes Res. 10(4):461-462Internat. Assoc. Great Lakes Res., 1984

COMMENTARY

THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT TRUST FUND FORGREAT LAKES RESEARCH*

M. Husain SadarScientific Advisor

Federal Environment Assessment Review OfficeGovernment of Canada

Fontaine BuildingHull, Quebec KIA OH3

Research on a highly complex, dynamic, anddiverse system such as the Great Lakes requireslong-term commitment, substantial resources, andinteragency and multi-disciplinary co-ordination.Consequently, the establishment of workable insti­tutional and cost-sharing arrangements to fosterresearch on the Great Lakes presents a formidablechallenge. It is currently very complicated to fundand coordinate comprehensive and long-termresearch activities on the Great Lakes involvingtwo federal, one provincial, and eight state govern­ments as well as private institutions. Additionalcomplications arise because of rapid shifts in polit­ical climates and subsequent changes in fund allo­cations and research in the United States and Can­ada. Politicians in those countries are frequently inoffice for four to five years' duration, and conse­quently are often unable to focus on issues relatingto a system such as the Great Lakes which has arecycling period extending over hundreds of years.

Needless to say, solving the environmental prob­lems of today as well as those of tomorrowrequires well-planned and long-term research strat­egies. For example, toxic substances is a primaryfocus today and concern over this issue undoubt­edly will expand even further as the presence ofnew environmental pollutants are documented.Current research in this area is so inadequate thatbasic information on sources, fate, and effects of

*The views expressed in this article are strictly the author's own anddo not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Federal EnvironmentalAssessment Review Office (FEARO).

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most toxic substances is woefully incomplete.Other areas where comprehensive, long-term

Great Lakes research is needed include:

- The issue of diverting water out of the GreatLakes basin to more arid regions and theimpact such a diversion would have on ship­ping, power industries, fisheries, andnearshore habitats.

- Justifying pollution controls on chemical andpaper/pulp dischargers, particularly duringperiods of economic recession, as the free­market fails to encourage recycling of wasteproducts unless the resource is scarce.

- Baseline data to develop fundamental knowl­edge about the lakes and against which trendsor suspected changes can be compared.

-Study of past achievements under the U.S.Clean Air and Water Acts, as well as data onthe implications of future legislation in boththe U.S. and Canada.

- The implication of:

(1) past/present/future atmospheric depositions,(2) aging wastewater treatment plants and urban

infrastructures,(3) the decline of mid-west steel and auto indus­

tries, as well as declining agriculture,(4) the changing significance of the Great Lakes

system to the social and economic fabric ofNorth America.

- Given the above considerations, I proposethat a permanent GREAT LAKESRESEARCH TR UST FUND should be set

462 M. H. SADAR

up. The fund would be used for those aspectsof Great Lakes Research which require a long­term commitment.

In order to meet these research needs effectively,substantial funds might initially be contributed bythe United States and Canadian Federal govern­ments, the Great Lakes states, and the Province ofOntario. The fund could be replenished periodi­cally by planned contributions by the participants.The mechanistic details for the management anddistribution of the fund could be incorporated in a

future U.S./Canadian agreement or perhapsthrough legislation.

The establishment of such a trust fund and itsproper management would create more stability inresource allocations for Great Lakes research.This, in turn, would enhance the ability ofresearchers to plan and undertake more compre­hensive and long-term programs and would be amajor step toward managing the Great Lakes froman ecosystem perspective.