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GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING USING LIMNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: SUMMARY
Citation:
Crook, L. AND W. Sonzogni. GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING USING LIMNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: SUMMARY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-79/011A.
Description:
The report documents the deliberate decision making process used by the Great Lakes Basin Commission in concluding that rational modeling methodologies could be used to evaluate the effect of different planning alternatives on the Great Lakes and that planning for specific problems affecting the Great Lakes system can be technically and economically supported through mathematical modeling and systems analysis. It assesses the technical and economical feasibility of developing mathematical models to assist in making selections from among alternative management strategies and structural solutions proposed for solving water resource problems of the Great Lakes. The study reviews, evaluates and categorizes present and future water resources problems, presently available data, problem-oriented mathematical models and the state of models and model synthesis for large lakes. A demonstration modeling framework for planning is developed and applied to western Lake Erie and the Great Lakes system. The report evaluates four widely ranging alternatives for future modeling efforts in the Great Lakes and recommends the modeling level most feasible to answer planning questions on scales ranging from the Great Lakes to regional areas. Also discussed is a proposed Commission study which will apply limnological systems analysis to the planning process.