The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA, often pronounced "glee-wah") provides drinking water treatment, drinking water distribution, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment services for the Southeast Michigan communities, including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

This event is set up as a "World Cafè" which is a kind of set of discussions in a round. I've never been to one before so I'll let you know how it goes. More here: theworldcafe.com/key-concepts-r…

This is a depiction of the conceptual model GLWA is using to explain how they are modeling flooding in Metro Detroit. This is a model to get people talking about what's affecting them , and some routes to address those.

This map depicts FEMA individual assistance claims

Residents are being asked to voice their individual concerns through sticky notes

Brian Korzets, of the Army Corps of Engineers, says that studies such as the one GLWA is collecting resident opinions now, usually take about 3 years. But the size of the current study means he estimates it should take closer to 8 years

This reflects a more typical timeline. As Brian told me above, this is planned to take closer to 8 years.

We are in the "Study Scoping" stage, and this World Cafè constitutes the "public scoping" subcategory

You're going to see this word a lot during this process, so i thought I'd give a quick definition for you.

With these questions they are asking attendees to point out on a map the areas they feel are of most concern to them.

Here is the relevant map.

The Army Corps of Engineers call this bit POOCs or Problems, Objectives, Opportunities and Constraints. This reflects the stage after stakeholders have voiced concerns, but before the past blic adds theirs (that's what today is about)

People are being asked to put stickers by what they believe is the most important issue, and that will go on to inform GLWA and the USACE

Background on USACE

Useful map of the study area and watersheds

Fun handout!

There should be a presentation in a little bit. I'll let you know when it starts up

Well folks, I'm told there is no presentation forthcoming, and that the stations were all there is for today, so I'll sign off here.

This closes my coverage of the Great Lakes Water Authority meeting for December 16th. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at documenters.org

‼️IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line