Great Lakes Forever c/o Biodiversity Project 4507 N Ravenswood #106 Chicago, IL 60640 773-496-4020 phone 773-906-1303 fax project@biodiverse.org   Intro :: Environment :: Cultural History :: Economy :: Policy :: Fun Facts As one of the world's most valuable resources, the Great Lakes are naturally a reason for debate. Invasive species, manufacturing, over-hunting and -fishing, pollution and climate change are all issues which Great Lakes politicians and their constituents are deeply concerned about. And whether it is on the local, state, regional or federal level, there is always political activity. Some of the biggest policy acts in recent years are listed below.   Water Diversions Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact The Compact is a piece of regional legislation that works to protect the Great Lakes from water diversions outside of the basin. By passing and ratifying this law, the eight Great Lakes states will not only protect this resource from leaving the basin, but also clearly state to the rest of the country and world that the Great Lakes water is a resource we must protect. For more information and to track the progress on this legislation, go to Peter Annin's website . Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement This is a non-binding agreement between the 8 Great Lakes states and two Great Lakes provinces that establishes the same rules as the Great Lakes Compact. Invasive Species Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 This federal policy helps protect the Great Lakes by requiring increased transparency through report submissions, saltwater flushing, installation of ballast water treatment systems, and more stringent water quality standards. Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act This act amended the Lacey Act, which states that detrimental species may not be transported in any way across federal or state borders. The Asian carp is one such species making its way up the Illinois River towards the Great Lakes. As a result, there are now electric barriers in place in the Illinois River to prevent their spread into the Great Lakes. National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2007 This policy builds on previous programs to set stricter standards for all ships - whether they are coastal or transoceanic - to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species. These standards include developing and implementing ballast water management plans, certification, and undergoing a saltwater flush process before entering the Great Lakes. Ecosystem Restoration Great Lakes Regional Collaboration's Strategy to Restore & Protect the Lakes In 2005 President George W. Bush declared the Great Lakes to be a national treasure, and through an executive order created the GLRC. This group developed a strategy and framework to improve the conditions in the Lakes. The eight issue areas include habitat/species, indicators and information; persistent bioaccumulative toxics reduction, invasive species, sustainable development, coastal health, non-point source pollution, and Areas of Concern restoration/sediments. Lack of funding and coordination is impeding the process of this plan, however.