Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership: Developing a framework for regional assessment

The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP) was formally recognized as a Fish Habitat Partnership in 2009.  It is the only Fish Habitat Partnership thus far to focus exclusively on the ecological threats to habitats in lakes 10 acres and greater. Glacial lakes are natural lakes of glacial origin and are abundant over much of the Upper Midwest.  They are regionally significant resources for fisheries and wildlife habitat, recreation and economic vitality of the region.  Yet they are increasingly threatened by a number of mostly human-driven factors, with no current regional strategy for addressing aquatic habitat protection and restoration of these vulnerable resources.

Early challenges to the partnership included our role as “pioneers” of the first lake-based partnership and our subsequent influence on the upcoming National Lakes Assessment.  The difficulties in addressing the resource management needs of eight individual states as well as the regional partnership necessitated collaborative solutions.

This presentation outlines how the partnership is meeting these challenges, foremost through an integrated organizational structure that includes a Project Manager, Steering Committee, and Habitat/Outreach/Assessment Teams. We combined aspects of several assessment frameworks to develop an approach that is unique to MGLP, yet flexible enough to address state concerns.