Great Lakes PerspectiveSamuel W. Speck

Chair, Water Management Working Group Council of Great Lakes Governors

Chair, Great Lakes Commission

Director, Ohio Dept of Natural Resources

Waves of Change: Examining the Role of States in Emerging

Ocean PolicyNGA Conference

September 4, 2003

Great Lakes BasinGreat Lakes Basin

Great LakesGreat Lakes• Largest system of fresh water on the earth• 20% of world’s supply of fresh surface water;

90% of United States’ supply• 6 quadrillion gallons of water over 94,000

square miles of lake surface• Basis for multi-billion dollar industries in

every state and province• Intensive, multiple use under a complex

multi-jurisdictional management structure• 895 billion gallons withdrawn/used in-stream

daily; (59 billion excluding hydroelectric); 2.64 billion consumed

• Binational agency representing Great Lakes states and provinces

• Formed mid 1950s via state law and 1968 via federal consent as an interstate compact

• Provincial associate membership began in 1999

• Promotes the informed use, management and protection of the water and related natural resources of the Great Lakes Basin and St. Lawrence River

• Addresses resource management, environmental protection, transportation and sustainable economic development issues

• Functions are information sharing, policy research and development, and advocacy

Great Lakes Great Lakes CommissionCommission

• Non-partisan partnership of

eight Great Lakes Governors

• Formed in 1983

• Premiers of Ontario and Quebec

are associate members

• Mission is to encourage and facilitate

environmentally responsible economic growth

Great Lakes CharterGreat Lakes Charter

• 1985 Good-faith agreement between Great Lakes Governors and Premiers

• Framework for protecting Basin waters from large scale diversions and consumptive uses

• Establishment of water management principles

Factors Leading to the Annex to the Great Lakes

Charter in 2001• 1986 U.S. federal statute (WRDA)- Prohibits diversions unless approved by Governors of all Great Lakes States- Allows veto without standards- Regulates first drop (no threshold)- Ontario & Quebec not subject to U.S. federal law- In-basin consumptive uses not incl- Question whether ground water incl

• 1998 Nova Group proposal• 1999 Recurring lower lake levels

October 1999October 1999Governors and Premiers Governors and Premiers

CommitmentCommitment• Develop new agreementDevelop new agreement• Develop new common standard Develop new common standard

for water removal based upon for water removal based upon protection of the water protection of the water resourcesresources

• Secure funds to develop a Secure funds to develop a better base of water use databetter base of water use data

Governors and Premiers Governors and Premiers Principles for Water Principles for Water

Management Regime Management Regime

• Protect the resourceProtect the resource• Be durableBe durable• Be simpleBe simple• Be efficientBe efficient• Retain authority in the BasinRetain authority in the Basin

Great Lakes Charter Annex

• Signed June 18, 2001

• In contrast to WRDA the Annex would:- Include Ontario and Quebec- Include in-basin consumptive uses- Include ground water- Commit to improve the sources & applicationsof scientific information re

management of Basin waters

Annex DirectivesAnnex Directives• New decision making standard• New set of binding agreements• Decision support system• Public participation• Further commitments

Improve sources & applications of scientific information, including role of ground water

• Regional review by State-Provincial body for large diversion and consumptive use proposals

• Individual State or Provincial review for smaller diversion and consumptive use proposals

Draft Decision Making Draft Decision Making FrameworkFramework

• June 2004 - timeline to develop agreement

• State-Provincial agreement• State legislation such as approval

of an interstate compact• Provincial legislation

Annex Implementation

Great Lakes PrioritiesGreat Lakes Priorities• March 1, 2001 Congressional Great

Lakes Task Force request to Governors

• Common set of priorities for Great Lakes restoration

• CGLG Priorities Task Force• April 2003 GAO Great Lakes Report• S 1398 and HR 2720

Great Lakes PrioritiesGreat Lakes Priorities

• Leadership role of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers is key to establishing policy priorities for a comprehensive restoration plan

• Priorities will reflect broad goals such as protection of human health, restoration of habitat, control of invasive species

• Great Lakes Basin Commission – compact

• Council of Great Lakes Governors – partnershipGreat Lakes Charter – good-faith agreementGreat Lakes Charter Annex – good-faith agreement that calls for binding agreements which are being developedGreat Lakes Priorities Task Force – partnership

• WRDA – U.S. federal law

Summary

Operationalize Regional Agreements• Compact• Good-faith agreement• U.S. federal law• Currently working towards meeting

intent of the Annex which calls for binding agreements

Regional Management

Biggest Challenges• Resolving legal issues • Deriving consensus among highly

diverse interests• Developing a scientific basis for

decision making• Bridging different histories of

water regulations within the respective jurisdictions

Regional Management

What Could Be Done Differently?• Better monitoring and research to

provide a scientific basis for decision making

• Better coordination, definition of objectives, and measurement of results among existing programs (GAO Great Lakes Report)

Regional Management

Lessons Learned• Sustainability of the resource is the critical

bridge for bringing people together• Improvement in scientific information is

needed for good decision making and setting standards

• Effective management of water resources in the Great Lakes Basin requires an international partnership

• Bridging group such as the Great Lakes Commission is necessary to bring diverse interests together

Regional Management

What Can the Federal Government/Ocean Commission Do?

• Recognize the key role of the States and Governors

• Recognize the Great Lakes as part of the focus of our national ocean policy

• Promote regional, watershed-based approach to policy development

• Ensure the Great Lakes receive full and equitable share of federal support and funding

Regional Management

“If there is magic on this planet, it is containedin water.” ~ Loren Eiseley, The Flow of the River