GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT REVIEW

First signed in 1972 and last amended nearly 20 years ago, the Water Quality Agreement outlines the commitment of each country to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem, including the international portion of the St. Lawrence River. It has resulted in cooperation between the United States and Canada to limit the discharge of nutrients and toxic substances into the waters, restore degraded areas and undertake other joint activities designed to improve water quality.

The International Joint Commission released a report recommending that the United States and Canada replace the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with a new stronger Agreement that will produce results more rapidly to protect and restore the waters of the Great Lakes Basin.
Click here to read the report "Advice To Governments on their Review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement"

For more information, visit the following sites:

International Joint Commission:
http://www.ijc.org/glconsultations/index.htm

Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glwqa/