Project Background

The Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study Board is undertaking a comprehensive five-year study for the International Joint Commission (IJC) to assess and evaluate the current criteria used for regulating water levels on Lake Ontario and in the St. Lawrence River.  The Study Team engaged by the IJC is a bi-national group of experts from government, academia, native communities, and interest groups representing the geographical, scientific, and community concerns of the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River system.  The Mission of the Study is to consider, develop, evaluate and recommend updates and changes to the 1956 criteria for Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River water levels and flow regulation, taking into account how water level fluctuations affect all interests and changing conditions in the system including climate change, all within the terms of the Boundary Waters Treaty.  The Study Team is committed to involving the public throughout the study by asking for their opinions, considering their input, and incorporating their concerns with the science work of the technical workgroups to deliver recommendations for new criteria and an updated plan for water level and flow regulation to the IJC. 

The Common Data Needs Technical Working Group (CDNTWG) of the International Joint Commission’s Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Study (LOSLR “Study”) was charged with the development and implementation of an Information Management Strategy (IMS) for the Study.  In response, the CDNTWG assembled an IMS Team consisting of GIS, IM, and IT professionals either participating in the Study, or associated with agencies or organizations in the Study region.  With assistance from a contractor, Pangaea Information Technologies, the IMS team conducted a comprehensive Needs Assessment and two workshops to aid in the formulation of that Strategy. 

During the second workshop, the group discussed the opportunity to acquire additional resources for implementing the IMS for the Study through a Category 4 grant from the 2002 National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP).  Prior to the workshop, discussions with FGDC and GeoConnections provided some guidance for responding to the RFP.  A breakout group at the workshop identified a preliminary set of public and private partners.