DETROIT, MI (AP)-- A U.S.-Canadian agency has released two reports that are part of an effort to measure the health of the Great Lakes.
The International Joint Commission reports were prepared by scientific advisory panels. They're a first step toward developing methods of determining how well Great Lakes cleanup efforts are working.
One report identifies 16 indicators that can be used to assess progress. They deal with topics such as chemical pollution, fish species, surface water temperature and ice cover.
During the next phase, the commission will work with its advisory boards and other experts to develop ideas on which data to collect and how to analyze and report the findings.
The commission is also identifying human health measures such as drinking water quality and beach safety.
