Ecosystem Management in the Great Lakes: Some Observations from Three RAP Sites

Abstract

The development of Remedial Action Plans represents a first effort to apply the ecosystem approach to Great Lakes water management. This paper proposes several preconditions to ecosystem management: intergovernmental and interdisciplinary participation t he creation of a mutually agreed upon decision making process political and public support and funding. The level of attainment of these preconditions was studied in three RAP sites (Green Bay, Wisconsin; Saginaw Bay, Michigan and Hamilton Harbour, Ontario) through on-site indepth interviews of thirty-five RAP participants. Two RAPs achieved the preconditions to varying degrees. The Green Bay RAP is distinguished in its utilization of ecosystem-level data and its intergovernmental participation. The Hamilton Harbour RAP stands out for its conceptualization of the ecosystem approach, and its commitment to consensual decision making. To date, the Saginaw Bay RAP has not achieved the preconditions outlined in this study. Overall, the participation of key individuals, a movement toward consensual decision making and adequate funding appear to be very important factors in the development and implementation of RAP plans using the ecosystem approach © 1993, International Association for Great Lakes Research. All rights reserved.