Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement – An Introduction

By Jenna Ventresca
Staff Writer

"The Truly Healthy environment is not merely safe but stimulating." 

-William H. Stewart, Environmental Science and Technology, February 1968.

The Great Lakes are the largest system of fresh surface water, a vital resource in Canada and the United States contributing $180 billion to Canada-US trade and are surrounded by over 33 million Canadians and Americans. Despite joint U.S.-Canadian efforts dating back to the early 1900s, the quality of the Great Lakes has been declining. As a result, not only are great lake’s ecosystems in disarray, but the future utilization of this great resource is at risk. The Great Lakes are not Truly Healthy, yet. To this end, efforts are underway to ensure that they can stimulate the environment, economy, and community health and development.

Efforts adopted in the recently amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement include updating phosphorus targets for open waters and nearshore areas of the lakes to reduce harmful algal blooms controlling discharge from ships and vessels where discharge includes oil and hazardous polluting substances, wastewater and sewage, biofouling, antifouling systems and ballast water, and the development of conservation strategies to protect native species and restore habitat such as wetland monitoring.

But who is coordinating these efforts?

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has been a key player in coordinating and developing efforts to improve the water quality of the Great Lakes. The IJC was created after Canada and the United States acknowledged the value of cooperation in the management and protection of the great lakes for present and future generations. The IJC’s response to poor water quality continuously includes determining Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI). BUIs are important because they indicate the most harmful effects of poor water quality as currently viewed by the IJC. A BUI is “a change in the chemical, physical or biological integrity of the Great Lakes system sufficient” to cause use impairments. In addition to other uses covered in Article IV of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, 14 additional BUIs explicitly designated are: 

1. Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption
2. Tainting of Fish and Wildlife Flavor
3. Degraded Fish and Wildlife Population
4. Fish Tumors or other Deformities
5. Bird or Animal Deformities of Reproductive Problems
6. Degradation of Benthos
7. Restriction of Dredging Activities
8. Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae
9. Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption
10. Beach Closings
11. Degradation of Aesthetics
12. Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry
13. Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations
14. Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

The aforementioned BUIs’ language on their face, most closely relate to environmental issues. However, it is vital that people recognize the interconnectedness of the environment with the prosperity of the Great Lakes, its residents and its role in the well-being of the Canada and the United States.

While efforts are in motion to improve the Great Lakes’ water quality, such as those described in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a more thorough review of the Agreement is necessary to shed light on whether it will be effective this time.