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

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

Presented byJohnny Sullivan

March 6, 2012

Discussion Questions

1. 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?

2. How might the history of Great Lakes management have changed if Canada had been a less developed nation?

3. What lessons can other nations learn from studying the relationship between the U.S. and Canada?

Overview

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

Great Lakes Basin

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

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

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

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

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

Water Quality Agreement (1972)

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

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)

Discussion Questions

1. 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?

2. How might the history of Great Lakes management have changed if Canada had been a less developed nation?

3. What lessons can other nations learn from studying the relationship between the U.S. and Canada?