Requesting Your Input: The Importance of NOAA in the Great Lakes Questionnaire Link Dear Great Lakes user, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently facing significant personnel and budget cuts. Current and projected impacts affect research efforts at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) at the University of Michigan, as well as other key NOAA partners working in the region. These cuts jeopardize essential research and stewardship, including the ability to predict weather patterns like lake-effect snow, manage lake conditions by monitoring harmful algal blooms and toxins, track hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen), assess changing ice conditions, monitor invasive species, predict fluctuating water levels and coastal flooding, and train the next generation of scientists. Great Lakes research is essential for a wide range of functions that benefit residents, visitors, and businesses in the region. For example, this work ensures public health and safety, safeguards drinking water, protects the nation’s largest source of freshwater, and supports the regional economy (e.g., industries like fishing and tourism). We would like to hear from individuals like you, who may be directly or indirectly impacted by NOAA’s research and work on the Great Lakes. We want to hear from anyone and everyone who cares about and interacts with the Lakes. Are you, for example, a beachgoer, angler, or recreational water user who depends on knowing when it's safe to visit beaches, the best conditions for a successful catch, or the ideal times to take your boat out on the lakes? Perhaps you're a water intake manager who depends on timely water chemistry data from the Lake Erie Hypoxia Forecast to make adjustments in water treatment processes and ensure the quality of drinking water. Maybe you're a member of a Great Lakes shipping company who counts on the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System (GLCFS) for water level and ice forecasts to ensure safe navigation and efficient, low risk shipping routes. Great Lakes data generated by NOAA helps inform decisions across Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, supporting both government agencies and private businesses in their efforts to protect critical economic activities and public safety. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete the questionnaire, accessible via the link below, and share your perspective. You may choose to remain anonymous when providing your responses. Your feedback will help us better understand how important Great Lakes research and these valuable resources are to your community, industry, and personal life. These insights are crucial as we advocate for continued support of NOAA’s Great Lakes research programs and raise awareness of the significant role they play in supporting the region’s economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Questionnaire Link Thank you for your time and contribution. We look forward to continuing our efforts to protect and enhance our beautiful Great Lakes!

---

American Federation of Government Employees
Local 3908
PO Box 652
Saline, MI 48176-0652


Last update: 2025/03/15 gcm

AFGE Local 3908
Copyright © .
All Rights Reserved.