The document summarizes the 2012 amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). Some of the key changes included expanding the scope to address new issues like climate change impacts and groundwater, increasing emphasis on pollution prevention, and establishing a new Great Lakes Executive Committee to advise the parties. The amendments also retained existing approaches for areas of concern, lakewide management of chemicals of mutual concern and nutrients, and principles like virtual elimination of toxic substances. Implementation will occur through continued binational coordination and each country's domestic mechanisms like the Clean Water Act in the US.

1. GLWQA 2012 Highlights
Michael Goffin, Environment Canada
– and –
Susan Hedman, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
1

2. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
1972
2

3. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement -
Over Time
3

4. Amended GLWQA Agreement
Signed Sept 7, 2012
4

5. 2012 GLWQA Amendments
To read or download the entire text:
Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/grandslacs-greatlakes/
Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glwqa/
5

6. 2012 GLWQA Amendments
Existing Approaches Retained
• Bi-national efforts focused on
Areas of Concern, lakewide
management, vessels,
chemicals , and nutrients
• Bi-national principles (e.g.,
virtual elimination)
• Domestic implementation
6

7. 2012 GLWQA Amendments - What’s New
• Expanded scope to address full range of issues
that impact Great Lakes water quality
• Increased emphasis on pollution prevention
• New issues: nearshore, aquatic invasives,
habitat, climate change impacts
7

8. Engagement under the GLWQA
8

9. Engagement under the GLWQA
• Great Lakes Public
Forum
• New Great Lakes Executive Committee
with expanded membership to advise
Parties
• Specific commitments throughout to
consult
9

10. Areas of Concern
Restore beneficial uses in Areas of Concern
through implementation of Remedial Action Plans
10

11. Lakewide Management
• Assess each lake and address water quality
threats on lakewide scale
• Develop a binational nearshore assessment
and management framework
11

12. Chemicals of Mutual Concern
Reduce anthropogenic release of chemicals of
mutual concern
12

13. Nutrients
Coordinate binational actions to manage
phosphorus concentrations and loadings --
and other nutrients, if warranted
13

14. Discharges from Vessels
Prevent and control vessel discharges harmful
to the quality of the Waters of the Great Lakes
14

15. Aquatic Invasive Species
Prevent the introduction of AIS, control or
reduce the spread of existing AIS, and eradicate
existing AIS where feasible
15

16. Habitat and Species
Conserve, protect, maintain, restore and enhance
the resilience of native species and their habitat
16

17. Groundwater
Coordinate groundwater science
and management actions
17

18. Climate Change Impacts
Co-ordinate efforts to identify,
quantify, understand and predict
climate change impacts and share
information
18

19. Science
Enhance coordination, integration, synthesis,
and assessment of science activities
19

20. GLWQA Implementation
Structure and Management
20

21. Great Lakes Executive Committee
21

22. Great Lakes Executive Committee
• Annex Subcommittees
• Binational Secretariat
22

23. DRAFT Timeline for Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Activities
• FORUM • FORUM
• 1ST
• SUMMIT • SUMMIT
GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC • GLEC
• SOLEC • SOLEC
• IJC • IJC
Dec ’12 Jun ‘13 Sep ’13 Dec ‘13 Mar ’14 Jun ’14 Dec ’14 Jun ‘15 Dec ’15 Jun ‘16 Sep ’16 Dec ’16 Mar ‘17 Jun’17
Priorities for
Science and Priorities for
Action (every 3 Progress Report
of the Parties Science and SOLEC
yrs thereafter) Action
(every 3 yrs Report
SOLEC thereafter)
Report
(every 3 yrs
thereafter)
IJC Assessment
of Progress
(every 3 yrs
thereafter)
Draft 12/21/2012

24. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms
24

25. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms - CANADA
25

26. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Randle Reef – Hamilton Harbour
26

27. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative
27

28. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Lake Simcoe South-Eastern Georgian Bay
Clean-Up Fund
28

29. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Asian Carp Initiative
29

30. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Areas of Concern
PENINSULA HARBOUR AOC
NIPIGON BAY AOC
30

31. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
BAY OF QUINTE AOC
• Areas of Concern
NIAGARA RIVER AOC
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER AOC
31

32. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – CANADA
• Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting
the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA)
32

33. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
CLEAN WATER ACT
33

34. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
Clean Water Act Consent Decrees
to Control Combined Sewer Overflows

35. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
Investment in Green Infrastructure

36. Implementing GLWQA through
.
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
Clean Water Act §319
Total Maximum Daily Loads

37. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
37

38. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
GLRI Priority: Combating Invasive Species
38

39. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
GLRI Priority: Impaired Watersheds
39

40. GLRI Priority: Impaired
Watersheds
Lower Fox River, WI
Saginaw River, MI
Maumee River, OH

41. Implementing GLWQA through
Domestic Mechanisms – U.S.
GLRI Priority: Cleaning Up Areas of Concern

42. .

43. .
• .

44. Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/grandslacs-greatlakes/
Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glwqa/
44