Through the
Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body, the Great
Lakes Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and the Premiers of Ontario and
Québec are taking the lead in protecting the world’s largest
source of surface fresh water—the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
Basin. We recognize that the Basin’s waters are one of the most
important natural resources in North America and that we must work
together to protect them.
The Great Lakes Governors and Premiers created the Regional Body on December 13, 2005, by signing the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement. The Agreement details how the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Québec will manage and protect the Basin and provide a framework for each State and Province to enact laws for its protection. The Governors and Premiers are working aggressively to put the Agreement into action.
NEWS
June 17, 2009 --Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Meeting Held
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body met on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. This conference call meeting was open to the public and included an opportunity for public comments. The agenda and resolutions adopted at the meeting are available. Notice of the meeting was given on May 15, 2009.
June 16, 2009--On June 11, the Québec Government, led by Premier Jean Charest, enacted historic protections for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The law implements the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (Agreement), which includes a ban on new or increased diversions of water from the Basin, with limited exceptions.
Québec’s Bill 27 fulfils its commitment to pass legislation implementing the Agreement and follows the National Assembly’s approval last year. Québec’s action completes the legislative process to implement the Agreement by each of the ten Great Lakes States and Provinces.
Full Press Release
December 8, 2008--Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Meeting Announced
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body held its meeting on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. CST. The meeting took place at the Ambassador East Hotel, 1301 N. State Parkway in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was open to the public and included opportunities for public comments.
December 8, 2008 Meeting Agenda
December 8, 2008 Meeting Agenda-Français
#8--Entry into Force of Chapter 5 of the Agreement (Regional Review)
#8--Entry into Force of Chapter 5 of the Agreement (Regional Review)-Français
#9--Procedures Committee-Français
October 3, 2008--President Bush signs Great Lakes Compact
The Great Lakes Governors today applauded President George W. Bush for signing a joint resolution of Congress providing consent to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The President’s action marks the final step in the Compact’s approval process thus enabling these historic protections to become law.
In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reached agreement on the Compact. The Compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection. The eight Great Lakes States reached a similar, good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the Provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency.
During 2007 and 2008, each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures ratified the Compact. Legislative approval was completed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2008, and by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 23, 2008.
