On April 16, 2024, FLOW released its report, A Watershed Moment: The Great Lakes Compact After 15 Years. The report offers a history of the agreement, analysis of its achievements and gaps, and recommendations to strengthen its protections.
Download the Report (PDF)
On December 8, 2008, after 10 years of talks and negotiations among the eight Great Lakes states, Congressional authorization, and a signature by President George W. Bush, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Compact took effect – a historic bipartisan accomplishment.1 “Together, we have taken a major step to protect the Great Lakes,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, a Democrat, chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. President Bush added, “The Great Lakes are a national treasure.”
The Compact protects the Great Lakes from diversions by canal, aqueduct, pipeline, vessel, tunnel or tanker truck, with limited exceptions. Fifteen years after the Compact took effect, its performance has come into focus. It’s time for a closer look.
This report by For Love of Water (FLOW), a Great Lakes advocacy center, takes stock of the Compact’s achievements and gaps, looks ahead to future challenges, and offers policy recommendations to help the Compact fulfill its promise as a global model for inter-jurisdictional water resource management.
If not to long I would like to read the report. Could you email it to me? Bill Crane
Hi Bill,
It can be downloaded from the highlighted link above. Thanks for your support in protecting our Great lakes!