Lake Ontario Lakewide Management

The Lake Ontario LaMP - Public Involvement

Public involvement and partnerships are key to the success of the Lake Ontario LaMP. Achieving the goals of the LaMP depends, in part, on greater public awareness, local community actions, and partnership between governments, the private sector and the public. In the Lake Ontario LaMP Stage 1, the Four Parties committed to an active public involvement program that includes three levels of involvement:

  • Partnerships (or Basin Teams) to promote understanding and connections;
  • A Mailing Network to keep people informed; and
  • Binational Forums to discuss key decisions or issues

This format was based upon input from the public, that guided the Four Parties toward a structure that would provide various opportunities for people to learn about the Lake Ontario LaMP; stay informed about progress and participate in LaMP activities. Below is a summary of individual agency and binational partnership development and public involvement efforts:

NYSDEC/USEPA:

NYSDEC, with support from USEPA, met with regional agencies, groups and organizations in the Lake Ontario basin to decide how to effectively exchange information and coordinate regional and Lake Ontario LaMP actions. These meetings ultimately lead to the creation of the Lake Ontario Regional Partners group.

Specifically, the Lake Ontario Regional Partners group comprises partners responsible for planning and implementing water quality/watershed management actions in the Lake Ontario basin including: Regional staff from NYSDEC, NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of State, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Regional Planning and Development Boards, Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee. The ultimate goal is to have partners working more effectively, sharing resources, avoiding duplication and maximizing opportunities for connecting and/or coordinating activities in New York State's Lake Ontario basin.

NYSDEC and USEPA have distributed information about the Lake Ontario LaMP and related water quality and habitat programs available to our Lake Ontario Regional Partners group as well as RAP committees, angler groups, natural resource organizations etc. Earlier this year, a letter from the NYSDEC and USEPA offered staff time to meet with partners to discuss LaMP activities and possible connections to local/regional efforts.

EC/MOE:

In Canada, efforts have centered around expanding partnerships with other agencies involved in programs closely related to LaMP efforts as well as with agencies responsible for watershed management. Meetings have been held with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in an effort to see how we can work more closely together.

Connections have been made with watershed groups, most notably the Toronto-based Waterfront Regeneration Trust and conservation authorities in the Lake Ontario region, with a view to examining how they can contribute to technical efforts in the LaMP. We are also looking to enlist their support in getting LaMP messages out to the individuals and organizations that they communicate with on a regular basis.

An example of the latter is the linkage with the Lower Trent Conservation Authority in their Big Cleanup Trailer summer tour. The trailer, containing a number of displays promoting awareness of environmental issues, was taken to a variety of local events around the Bay of Quinte in eastern Ontario. The Lake Ontario LaMP had a display space in the trailer which enabled us to spread the message about the LaMP through the exhibit and to distribute printed materials to the public.

Members of the LaMP team have made presentations at regular meetings of some of these other organizations in order to educate their members about the LaMP.

Binational:

Some highlights of binational public involvement efforts:

  • The Four Parties produced an informative brochure about the Lake Ontario LaMP that is available for your information and distribution to your group or organization.
  • Since 1999 the Four Parties have produced an annual newletter called "Update". "Update" was designed to report on progress of activities under the LaMP in the preceding year. With the advent of the biennial LaMP reporting schedule, "Update" will be produced in the odd years (2003, 2005 etc.) while a LaMP report will be published in the even years.
  • The Lake Ontario LaMP Binational web site was created to provide information on the LaMP and public involvement activities.

Read on see how you can become part of our mailing network.

   

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