Why this site is important

Recent trends in land use, such as increased settlement of rural areas, forest land conversion, and increased development, have emerged as key issues affecting natural resource management along Lake Superior's North Shore. As units of government from local townships to the federal governments of the US and Canada plan for the future, the need for data and tools for sound decision-making has become critical.

Local decision makers, however, often lack the most fundamental data layers required for sound water and land management decisions. Among these are comprehensive information on local watersheds and hydrography, land use/land cover, transportation and zoning information, demography, and even basic characteristics of the Lake Superior shoreline.

In addition to the lack of spatial data, smaller units of government and agencies often embark on land use and water management planning exercises with few tools at their disposal. While computer simulation models, draft ordinances, and decision support tools are receiving wider use in planning, these tools are often out of reach of local governments who lack equipment and expertise required for their use.

The intent of this site is to provide these data and tools to these important local decision makers.