The Great Lakes Ecological Assessment (GLA) involves many organizations and we gratefully acknowledge the support and contributions that have made this effort possible. There is no single large funding base for the GLA. Rather, this effort has been supported through many partners who have a collective interest in its outcome. The following people and the organizations they represent have helped make the project possible with substantial commitments of their time, the specialized talents of people in their organizations, funding, information, and a wide variety of resources.

The Joint Fire Science Program, representing all federal land management agencies, has generously provided funding supporting research into historical and modern natural disturbance regimes, and effects thereof on species and ecosystems. We wish to especially acknowledge Dr. Bob Clark, Program Manager, located at the National Interagency Fire Center, Boise Idaho.

The Interagency Management Council of the National Partnership for Reinventing Government has supported the Great Lakes Ecological Assessment with funding for the project entitled "Coordinated Management and Utilization of Natural Resource Information for Forest Lands in the Great Lakes Region." In particular, project champion Ms. Nancy L. Potter, Deputy Director of Budget, General Services Administration, has been instrumental in providing encouragement and direction.

Dr. Christopher D. Risbrudt, Jim Keys, and Al Albee, USDA Forest Service, Washington, D.C. have provided many ideas, much support, and funding. Without their continued involvement and support, this effort would not be possible.

The Eastern Region and the North Central Research Station of the USDA Forest Service have provided staff support, equipment, facilities, and funding. We especially thank Regional Forester Robert T. Jacobs, Deputy Regional Forester Donald L. Meyer, Forest Supervisor Phyllis Green, and Assistant Director Dave Shriner for their support. They have encouraged high standards and objectivity in our efforts to address the important issues faced by managers of the region's forest resources.

Staff representing the Forest Supervisors from the six Lake States National Forests have supported the GLA in many ways. National forest specialists and planners have contributed to the Assessment through their technical contributions and collaboration with the GLA team. Their diverse perspectives and skills have broadened this project.

Many individuals from a wide variety of natural resource and academic organizations have contributed technical information to the Assessment. These include: The USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station and Eastern Region National Forests; USDI Geological Survey, Biological Research Division; Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility, University of Wisconsin at Madison; Michigan State University; the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Duluth; Michigan Technological University; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Individual contributions are identified on the theme pages of this web.

Delivery of the information over the Internet would not be possible without assistance from the USDI Geological Survey, Biological Resource Division in Onalaska, WI and the Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry branch of the USDA-Forest Service in St. Paul, MN. We appreciate their technical expertise and Internet support.