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

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

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

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  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?

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