In collaboration with its partners, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is excited to share a training video about the International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD), located here. IGLD is the official water level reference system for the Great Lakes, their connecting waterways, and the St. Lawrence River. The system is needed for safe marine navigation, water level regulation, surveying, mapping, shoreline use planning and restoration, and more.  

The purpose of the training video is to educate technical users on the current IGLD (1985) and expected changes with the new IGLD (2020). It provides foundational knowledge of the IGLD, covering its historical context, the collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Canada for a binational update, and potential impacts for the expected 2027 update. 

In addition to the training, CO-OPS is conducting a brief survey to gather feedback from stakeholders who use the IGLD or related products, such as navigation charts or Operational Forecast Systems. The survey, which takes about 3 minutes to complete, will help NOAA better understand user needs and the potential impact of the IGLD update. Your input will help guide how NOAA can best support users in preparing for these changes.

Watch the IGLD training video on the CO-OPS website, and take the survey to share your feedback and help shape future IGLD updates.