International Joint Commission launches public consultation on protection of Great Lakes

The International Joint Commission is seeking public comment on the recently-released draft “2025 Review of the International Joint Commission’s Report on the ‘Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes’.”

This is the second 10-year review on the consumptive use, diversion and removal of water from the Great Lakes.

The draft report provides a preliminary evaluation of the relevance and implementation status of recommendations issued by the commission in a 2015 report. It also proposes new recommendations for the commission to submit to governments.

A public webinar will be Aug. 14, from 12-1 p.m. (EST) to provide an overview of the preliminary findings of the draft report and obtain public comments. Comments can also be provided in writing to the commission.

To access the report, register for the webinar, or submit comments, visit: www.ijc.org/pwgl.

QUICK FACTS:
 

• The International Joint Commission has studied the removal of water from, and within, the Great Lakes basin for more than 40 years.
• The commission issued its first report with recommendations on the “Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes” in 2000, following a formal request, or “reference,” from the Governments of Canada and the United States.
• The first report was followed by a three-year review, released in 2004, and a 10-year review, released in 2015.
• The analysis in the draft 2025 report is informed by interviews with more than 30 key stakeholders and subject-matter experts.