The virtual elimination of toxic pollutants in the Great Lakes is a goal shared by the U.S. & Canada. While some progress has been made, pollution levels remain unacceptably high. The Great Lakes Initiative (GLI) requires stringent water quality standards for many pollutants in discharges regulated by states administering the Nat. Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit programs. This report examines the: (1) GLI's focus & potential impact on water quality in the Great Lakes Basin; (2) status of GLI's adoption by the states & any challenges to achieving intended goals; & (3) steps taken by the EPA for ensuring full & consistent implementation of GLI & for assessing progress toward achieving its goals. Charts, tables & maps.

Proceedings of a conference organized to address Lake Erie management issues in six categories: eutrophication/primary production, exotic & nuisance aquatic species, upper food web exploitation, ecosystem stability, habitat structure & function, and contaminants. Participants were asked to present models addressing as many of these categories as possible in order to assess the potential for models to help implement the ecosystem approach to management in Lake Erie. Appendices contain papers that provide details of nine models, including some discussion of results, monitoring & research needs, and implications for management.