These proceedings contain a summary of the information exchanged at the 1996 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference. Reactions and comments from participants have been summarized, and contributions from keynote speakers have been captured. The intent is to provide the reader an opportunity to evaluate and discuss the ideas presented at the conference. Building on the findings of SOLEC '94, SOLEC '96 focused on the nearshore areas of the Great Lakes basin. The nearshore zone includes the relatively warm and shallow waters near the shore, coastal wetlands, and the land areas directly affected by lake processes. The objectives of SOLEC '96 were to: 1) Inform local decision-makers of environmental issues that affect nearshore areas of the Great Lakes basin; 2) Provide information on the state of the nearshore ecosystem to help strengthen decision-making and management within the basin; 3) Develop support for an integrated environmental information system to help direct plans and programs; 4) Provide information on existing Great Lakes strategies and build cooperative actions needed to strengthen and complement them; and 5) Provide a forum for improved communication and network building for involved groups and individuals within the basin.