Discussion Paper:

A New Framework for the

Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council

 

Draft – April 2001

 

Introduction

 

The Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council (LMMCC) has existed formally for almost two years and has made considerable progress toward initiatives to bring interested parties in the basin together to share information about their monitoring efforts.  The Council helped compile an inventory of monitoring programs and analyze programs for similar and divergent objectives.  The Council has examined several coordinated monitoring efforts inside and outside the basin, and has thoroughly discussed how lessons from those efforts could be applied to monitoring in the Lake Michigan basin.  Further, the Council has developed numerous initiatives to improve internal and external communications and promote the Council’s approach.

 

Now the Council needs to refocus its efforts to develop initiatives related to goals in its founding charter.  To do this, a new structure for long term workgroups is needed.  This discussion paper proposes a framework for the Council that will enhance the ability of members to make direct connections with others in their area of professional focus and develop plans for increasing monitoring coordination and addressing monitoring needs.  This framework is only one possibility out of many others, and should be discussed in detail by the full Council.

 

The Framework

 

The Council is currently set up with several workgroups that were designed to have short-term functions.  A new framework is needed that will be aligned with the focus and objectives of Council members.  One way to do this is to establish networks based on functional elements such as ground water and wildlife.  Council members in these groups can work on monitoring coordination issues that pertain specifically to their expertise.  The Council also needs separate groups to work on general elements such as developing and maintaining communication tools and planning conferences.  All of these workgroups can work independently, then come together twice a year for full Council meetings to share their results and make cross-connections.

 

The specific proposed framework for the Council is depicted below in an organizational tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workgroup Responsibilities

 

Each of these workgroups needs to have specific responsibilities to ensure that the Council’s overall goals are met.  These responsibilities can be generalized for each of the two sets of workgroups.

 

Monitoring Networks

Each of the network groups needs to develop a plan or report on the coordination of data collection, reporting and use across the basin.  Some suggested networks have already been established for years and may simply need to report on their progress.  Others will need to develop a plan to begin the coordination work.  Each group can determine for themselves what level of effort is necessary and on which elements they would like to focus.  Some suggested report or plan elements would include (see the discussion paper “Considerations for Development of a Coordinated

Water Quality Monitoring Network for Lake Michigan” for detailed examples):

• basinwide needs and workgroup goals,
• collection strategy (gap assessment), 
• network design,
• methods (parameters sampled),
• QA/QC considerations,
• Metadata,
• Reporting,
• data sharing, and
• data management systems

 

In addition to these elements, monitoring network workgroups should also consider recruiting participation from people not currently involved in the Council.  These workgroup participants need not participate at the full Council level.  Indeed, several networks have already been formed and should be leveraged to provide information needed by the Council.

 

Collaboration and Outreach

The role of the collaboration and outreach workgroups will be to serve in a general support capacity to the other workgroups and the Council as a whole.  They would meet only when needed.  New workgroups in this area may need to be formed from time to time as issues in common to multiple workgroups arise.  These workgroups would address issues such as data network establishment, communication tools, conference planning, etc.

 

Workgroup Products

 

The initial products from these workgroups should be workgroup plans or reports.  These plans should establish a purpose, and measurable goals and objectives and include steps to address coordination elements.  The plans should also report on elements that have already been established and reference other documents that contain details.

 

Once these planning documents have been created, the workgroups can begin work on key priorities and develop products such as discussion papers and guidance documents.   Where possible efforts should be made to gain agreement from all necessary parties to establish standards.

 

The planning documents from the workgroups will be compiled into a larger strategic plan for the Council as a whole.  This plan will consolidate information and establish general objectives for all workgroups.

 

Conclusions

 

In sum, the proposed framework for the Council should provide concrete direction and better accessibility to a greater number of individuals engaged in monitoring in the Lake Michigan basin.  While there are several alternative designs to such a framework, the overall intent should remain.  It is critical to the future success of the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council that a framework be established that encourages the greatest amount of participation and coordination of monitoring as possible.