GLMRIS: Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study

Stay Involved

This website is the online center for public information and involvement in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS). Browse this website, and subscribe to receive e-mail alerts and GLMRIS newsletters.

The GLMRIS Team is utilizing Facebook and Twitter as a means of broadcasting ways to stay involved with GLMRIS and with issues associated with aquatic nuisance species. Join the GLMRIS conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Past Involvement Opportunities

Brandon Road – Draft GLMRIS-BR Report

The GLMRIS Team asked interested members of the public to read the Draft GLMRIS-BR Report and provide comments on the alternatives presented. Comments were received through December 8, 2017, via electronic submittal on the GLMRIS website, public meetings, mail, and hand delivery. Please refer to the Brandon Road Public Meetings page for meeting locations, transcripts, materials, and recordings.

Public comments received during the comment period are available on the Draft GLMRIS-BR Report Comments page.

GLMRIS - Brandon Road Scoping Period

The GLMRIS Team invited the public to provide comments on USACE’s evaluation of a control point in the vicinity of Brandon Road Lock and Dam. USACE scoped the development of a feasibility-level decision document to support an agency decision that could provide the basis for further possible action. Comments were received through January 30, 2015, via public meetings, electronic submittal on the GLMRIS website, mail, and hand-delivery. Please refer to the Brandon Road 2014 NEPA Scoping page for public meeting locations, meeting transcripts, and materials.

The public scoping comments are available for viewing on the Brandon Road 2014 NEPA Scoping page. A summary of the comments that were received during the scoping period is available in the GLMRIS - Brandon Road, EIS, Scoping Summary Report 1.2 MB.

GLMRIS Report Comment Period

The GLMRIS Team invited the public to comment on the alternatives presented in the GLMRIS Report. Comments were received through March 31, 2014, via public meetings, electronic submittal on the GLMRIS website, mail and hand-delivery. Please refer to the GLMRIS Report page for public meeting locations, meeting transcripts, and videos.

Please refer to the GLMRIS Report Public Meetings page to view transcripts, videos slides and other materials from the eleven public meetings held following release of the GLMRIS Report.

The comments received during the public comment period are available on the Public Comments page. A summary of the public engagement activities conducted and the comments submitted during the public comment period are available in the Public Comment Summary Report (PDF, 953 KB).

Focus Area 2 Other Aquatic Pathways Comment Period

Interim reports for 18 potential aquatic pathways, as well as a summary report, were released beginning September 14, 2012. The GLMRIS FA2 Team asked for public input on these reports. Each report had a 30-day comment period following its release. Read the reports with incorporated feedback on the FA2 Other Aquatic Pathways page.

ANS Control Screening Comment Period

USACE has screened the ANS Controls identified in the Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System (ANS Control Paper) and removed certain controls from further consideration by GLMRIS. USACE requested comments from public stakeholders regarding the ANS Controls Screening from January 18 through February 21, 2013. USACE considered the information generated during the comment period to further screen the list of ANS Controls. More information on the screening can be found on the ANS Control Screening page.

ANS Control Comment Period

USACE asked interested members of the public to review the list of potential Controls contained in the Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System and provide information regarding Controls that may be effective but not included in the paper or comments regarding Controls listed in the paper. Comments were received via electronic submittal through the GLMRIS website and mail. The comment period ran from December 21, 2011 through February 17, 2012. USACE reviewed and incorporated public input before finalizing and re-issuing the paper. View these Controls and the updated paper on the ANS Controls page.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the paper and to comment. The GLMRIS Team appreciates your input!

GLMRIS – NEPA Public Scoping

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping period was from November 16, 2010 through March 31, 2011. For more information regarding NEPA scoping, see What is NEPA Scoping?

During the scoping period, USACE solicited public comments regarding the scope of GLMRIS. The scope included the prevention of interbasin transfer of ANS between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins via aquatic pathways. Comments were delivered during 12 USACE-hosted public scoping meetings and received via electronic submittal through the GLMRIS website, mail and hand-delivery.

Please refer to the Completed NEPA Public Scoping Meetings and Transcripts page for more information regarding these meetings and to view transcripts of the scoping meetings.

The comments received during the scoping period are available on the View Scoping Comments page. A summary of the NEPA public scoping activities and the comments submitted during the scoping period is available in the NEPA Scoping Summary Report (PDF, 1.4 MB).

For Additional Information

For additional information on aquatic nuisance species and what you can do to prevent their spread, visit the following federal agency websites:

For location-specific information addressing aquatic nuisance species, visit your state's Department of Natural Resources website.

For further information on GLMRIS, please contact:

Office of Public Affairs
Chicago District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
231 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)846-5330

Via e-mail: [email protected]