Management of the Great Lakes by the U.S. and Canada

1. Management of the Great Lakes by the U.S. and Canada Presented by Johnny Sullivan March 6, 2012

2. Discussion Questions • Why do you think the U.S.-Canada relationship has been so cooperative and successful compared to the many struggles we have seen in other countries’ attempts to form water management agreements? • How might the history of Great Lakes management have changed if Canada had been a less developed nation? • What lessons can other nations learn from studying the relationship between the U.S. and Canada?

3. Overview

4. Then why are we studying it? • One of the largest hydrologic systems in the world • Model of effective management between two countries • Long history of cooperation between parties involved • Important to understand well-functioning system when studying those that face difficulties

5. Great Lakes Basin

6. Great Lakes Basin • Lakes in separate basins, but form single interconnected body of water • Michigan & Huron hydrologically the same • Water from Superior goes to Atlantic • Great Lakes Waterway • Saint Lawrence Seaway

7. Basin Characteristics • Largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth • 94,250 mi2 of total surface area (equal to Oregon) • 21% of world’s surface fresh water • 84% of North American fresh water

8. Basin Management History • Series of treaties between U.S. and Canada starting in 1909 • Increasingly collaborative • Transitioned from reactive to proactive • Motivated by interest in repairing and preserving their shared water resources

9. Boundary Waters Treaty (1909) • U.S. and Great Britain • Established International Joint Commission • Tribunal to investigate management of transboundary tributaries and rivers and resolve disputes • Must be requested by both countries • Definition of transboundary • Neither country can change water level without IJC’s approval

10. Water Quality Agreement (1972) • Reaffirmed rights of Boundary Waters Treaty • Focused on environmental issues • Defined “areas of concern” • “impairment of beneficial use of the area’s ability to support aquatic life” • Objectives describe prevention of pollution: particulate, chemical, heat, and nutrient

11. Water Quality Agreement (1972)

12. Further Agreements • Great Lakes Charter (1985), Water Resources Development Act (1986) • Focused on management of water supply • Large water withdrawals require approval of all 8 Great Lakes states • Difficult – prevented entities from taking advantage of Great Lakes water

13. Most Recent Agreements • Annex 1 to the Great Lakes Charter (2001), Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (2005) (both), Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (2008) (U.S.) • Collaborative, basin-wide system for managing waters (how much, how far away)

14. Discussion Questions • Why do you think the U.S.-Canada relationship has been so cooperative and successful compared to the many struggles we have seen in other countries’ attempts to form water management agreements? • How might the history of Great Lakes management have changed if Canada had been a less developed nation? • What lessons can other nations learn from studying the relationship between the U.S. and Canada?