Post on 11-Aug-2015
transcript
The Alliance for the Great LakesGreat Lakes Restoration:
Volunteers Playing a Valuable Role in Data Collection
Jamie Cross Adopt-a-Beach™ Manager jcross@greatlakes.org
What’s Ahead
• Who is the Alliance for the Great Lakes
• Adopt-a-Beach™ Program Overview
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Adopt-a-Beach™
A Community that Cares for the Great Lakes
Conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource using:
• Policy• Education• Local Efforts
Ensuring a living resource for future generations of people and wildlife.
Formed in 1970, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent Great Lakes citizens' organization in North America. Our missing is to…
The Adopt-a-Beach™ Program Today the program is a year-round opportunity for families, schools,
businesses and community-based groups to conduct litter monitoring and monitor beach health along Great Lakes shorelines.
Adopt-a-Beach™ Program Overview
• 1991 – International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator in Illinois and Michigan
• 2003 – Launched year-round Adopt-a-Beach™ program
• 2008 – International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator in Indiana
• 2008 – Aligned Adopt-a-Beach™ forms with US EPA’s Sanitary Survey
• 2010 – Year-round program in six Great Lake states
• 2010 – International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator in Wisconsin
• 2010 – Nearly 11,000 volunteers participating
• 2011 – Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant
Adopt-a-Beach™ Program Overview
Routine Visit Form (aligned with EPA Sanitary Survey Form)
• Used to pinpoint potential pollution sources to beaches
• Used to help predict high levels of bacteria at beaches
Litter Monitoring Form
• Wildlife entanglements• Used to track type of trash • Can help determine potential pollution sources
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Overview
Development of tiered volunteer program
Focus on Areas of Concern Adopt-a-Beach™ expansion in areas
not served at beaches of concern Online data entry system with public
interface Sharing information with beach health
officials and others
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Tier Two Criteria
High quality, timely data Introductory and quality assurance
training required Beaches monitored at least 3 times in a
3 month period Results reported online within 2-3 days
after visit Memorandum of understanding
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Focus on Areas of Concern
Milwaukee Estuary, Cuyahoga River, Saginaw Bay
Eight Tier Two Teams 40 Routine Visit Forms
33 Litter Monitoring Forms Fifteen Tier Two Teams
45 Routine Visit Forms 52 Litter Monitoring Forms
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Expansion into areas not served at beaches of concern
Six states and 13 counties First time in New York Thirty Tier One Teams
52 Routine Visit Forms 51 Litter Monitoring Forms
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Online system
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Next steps
Sharing results with beach health officials and others
- Through online system- Future summary meetings - Impaired waters list,
TMDLs Program evaluation with participants
Adopt-a-Beach™: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Beyond
Other Adopt-a-Beach™ projects
Chicago Park District GLRI partnershipsBeach Ambassador Program Annual Sanitary Survey
Form Great Lakes Restoration new grant Beyond GLRI
Stephen Love, OH adopterIndiana Dunes State Park
Alliance Connections
Jamie Cross, Manager, Adopt-a-Beach
Carolyn Scholz, Director, Individual Philanthropy
Jonah Smith, Director, Sustainable Business
Stephanie Smith, Vice President of Operations
Joel Brammeier, President and Chief Executive Officer
Learn more about the Alliance: www.greatlakes.org