Chairman Capito Asks Witnesses About Great Lakes Restoration Opportunities and Challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing to examine restoration efforts in the Great Lakes region.

During the hearing, Chairman Capito asked Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, about the collaboration between state and federal government agencies in Great Lakes restoration efforts, as well as the partnerships between individual states doing this work. She also asked Dr. Christopher Winslow, Director at the Ohio Sea Grant Program and Director of Stone Laboratory at The Ohio State University, about the role that universities and research institutions play in Great Lakes restoration efforts.

HIGHLIGHTS:

COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM

Chairman Capito:

"All three of you have talked about the coordinating, collaborative efforts here. This is not just a federal effort. It coordinates with local, state and then you all mentioned nonprofits too, so I appreciate that. [Director Mertz,] based on your role at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, how has partnering with the various federal agencies that are part of the GLRI interagency task force contributed to tangible restoration? I guess my question is more, are there competing interests within that? Or does the state take the lead and the federal comes in as a funder but also an overseer […]?"

Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

"I would say, foundationally, it's a great relationship. We have a lot of trust in our federal partners. And we bring them ideas, and they work with us on how to fund them. […] There's a very talented leader at Region Five of [the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency], which oversees the Great Lakes and has the Great Lakes National Program Office, and she is very attuned to what is happening in the region and does a fantastic job of working with all of us as best she can. But there are a lot of federal agencies involved. […] Sometimes we think it would be helpful to have more transparency in how the funds are allocated amongst the federal agencies and understand their planning processes because we want to be complementary. I highlighted for you a project where the federal money and the state money came together, and that's how they should all work. But there are a lot of federal agencies involved. […]"

Chairman Capito:

"Let's go through what those federal agencies could be. So, I'm going to start: [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers, [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)], Fish and Wildlife [Service]…"

Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

"[U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)], several different divisions in USDA…"

Chairman Capito:

"[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)]. You mentioned NOAA."

Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

"That might cover it, but some different divisions within the Department of the Interior. And so, there's originally the basket of money that is distributed to federal agencies, and half of that money is spent by the federal agencies. And it's always interesting to us how they are choosing to do that additive spending. But I mean, we are confident they are spending it in the region. They show lots of good results. But sometimes knowing more about it might help our planning."

Chairman Capito:

"Yeah. I think what you're saying is if you're spreading [efforts] across different agencies, are you diffusing the effectiveness, and are they coordinating? I know that they are doing good work. But if one's working here and one's working there, what it be most effective to work here together to make a bigger impact, so I think that's a good suggestion."

UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

Chairman Capito:

"Dr. Winslow, obviously you have a role at The Ohio State [University] […]. I think that the role that universities and research institutions play, all across the board but certainly in this case, are extremely important. What other things could you tell me about, unique roles that a university or research institution [plays]? Does The Ohio State invest in or become a partner in some of the restoration efforts or serve as technical advisors? Or do you have students that are doing internships and cooperative arrangements? How does that work with a coordinated fashion?"

Dr. Christopher Winslow, Director at the Ohio Sea Grant Program and Director of Stone Laboratory at the Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences' School of Environment and Natural Resources:

"All of the above. But what I will stress is that the work that happens in the Great Lakes, with the help of GLRI, is very much applied research. […] But the work that we're doing at these agencies allows us to do research that informs action on the ground, boots on the ground. Also, to come back to the students, you don't have projects that are funded through GLRI and matched by state and other sources that don't have undergrads involved, that don't have Masters and PhD students doing the work. That is professional development. Because those ecosystems will need to be managed into the future, and also those are not the only ecosystems that need to be restored. […] I will say, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and [related programs] that have occurred in the Great Lakes [have] actually created a synergy and a relationship between agencies and academics that's never happened before. We are in a new space, where those two groups of individuals are working more collaboratively now than ever before."

INTERSTATE COLLABORATION

Chairman Capito:

"Last question very quick to Director Mertz. There are eight states and Canada that are involved here with all of the Great Lakes. […] Is there ever an uncomfortable competition between states, or are you able to overcome that? Because obviously some states border some lakes, some don't. Is that ever an issue?"

Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

"Not really. Because we get it. It's the same water everywhere, and what happens there is going to affect us. I mean, we joke sometimes about, is it a Canadian fish or is it an Ohio fish? Well, you know, it's the same fish. They're just swimming around in the same lake. And so, I think it's far more collaborative than it's ever competitive."

Click HERE to view Chairman Capito's questions.

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