The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact
Semester
With 18% of the world's fresh surface water, the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River supports 35 million people and generates $15 billion for the economy. This team examined the water resource compact for this region, which covers 8 US states and has a variety of goals. It aims to improve water management, prohibit new and increased diversions, create a water resource inventory, and encourage water conservation. The group analyzed the impact of low lake levels, which includes a decrease in shipping capacity, infrastructure needing to be replaced, how it will impact coastal wetlands and exacerbate invasive species problems, and water and air quality threats. They concluded by addressing the pros and cons of the compact, such as though the compact would protect water, it could limit growth, and despite protecting existing users, is it necessarily fair.