US, Canada update Great Lakes agreement for first time in 25 years

The United States and Canada updated a binational pact that takes a more “prevention-oriented” approach to the Great Lakes than previous versions, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson said Friday.

The Friday signing of an amendment to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement marks the first update to the effort in 25 years. It takes into account the effect new invasive species, such as the Asian carp, have had on the Great Lakes ecosystem as well as older concerns such as toxic chemicals.

The update also will also address issues associated with climate change, such as the proliferation of harmful algae and rising water temperatures that deplete oxygen and reduce water levels in the world’s largest freshwater source.

“Protecting cherished water bodies like the Great Lakes is not only about environmental conservation,” Jackson said. “It’s also about protecting the health of the families — and the economies — of the local communities that depend on those water bodies for so much, every day.”

Canadian Minister of the Environment Peter Kent was also on hand for the ceremonial signing.

The agreement was first signed in 1972 with the intent to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters” of the Great Lakes region and the part of the St. Lawrence River that runs along the U.S.-Canada border.