Folks go online to try to sustain the Great Lakes

[Thom Little]

Salmon, lake-effect snow, and water that wets the toothbrushes of 37 million people come from the Great Lakes -- a globally significant ecosystem that contains 95% of the nation's fresh surface water.

But when it comes to getting involved in helping the Lakes it's hard to know where to turn, what with all the confusing programs and groups jostling for visibility. (This month alone, there's been a slew of news with mind-numbing jargon like Regional Collaboration of National Significance and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Annex 2001 Implementing Agreements. Jeez!)

So how about putting this stuff into plain English? Enter the Great Lakes Town Hall Web site. Launched this month by the nonprofit Biodiversity Project based in Madison, Wis., the site is intended to be: A place where anyone can get nontechnical answers from experts and laypersons on Great Lakes issues. A virtual meeting hall where people can post unedited opinions. A link to other Great Lakes groups and programs.

A magnet for Joe and Jane Lunchbuckets who want to get involved, but have not yet been able to penetrate the politics and bureaucratese that seem to create a barrier to involvement.

"People ask me, 'so what's your agenda?' " said Jeffrey Potter, one of the site's moderators. "I have no agenda other than increasing public involvement and discussion about Great Lakes issues. Providing a connecting point for people."


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