Great Lakes Conservation and Restoration

PEC works with multiple stakeholders throughout the Lake Erie basin and across the state and Great Lakes basin to promote the conservation and restoration of Lake Erie and the rest of the Great Lakes.

Background:

The Great Lakes are one of the natural wonders of the world. But the Lakes are losing water, and are threatened by chemical and biological pollution. Demand for clean, fresh water is increasing at a staggering rate worldwide. Recognizing these threats, PEC works cooperatively with numerous and varied stakeholders throughout the Great Lakes basin, including elected state, county and local officials, agencies, business people, and conservation organizations to educate key audiences about the importance of the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie, to the states' and region's economy and environment. PEC's efforts include three major components: Education, stakeholder facilitation and mediation, and implementation assistance. PEC works with other regional partners to educate the media, key decision makers, land owners and farmers, business leaders, scientists, and other audiences on the importance of the Great Lakes and the need to the protect the region's most critical natural resource - water. Maintaining water supplies is essential to the region's ecology and economy. And there is an urgent need for action now, because the Great Lakes could face major water withdrawals as other regions of the country look to replenish their supplies. Building on its past experience with stakeholder processes and its current involvement with the state's Great Lakes basin Water Planning Committee, PEC has identified key stakeholders and continues to engage them in a series of discussions on the Great Lakes with the intention of developing consensus that can be leveraged to conserve and restore the Lakes.

As a critical step forward in their recognition of the value of the Great Lakes as a public resource, in 2005 the eight Great Lakes governors endorsed an unprecedented agreement for protecting the Great Lakes: the "Great Lakes - Saint Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact" (please see: http://www.cglg.org/projects/water/CompactImplementation.asp). Governor Ed Rendell endorsed the Compact after years of work, including the tireless efforts of Governor Tom Ridge dating back to the 1990s. That Compact will provide equal protection for Great Lakes states as we enjoy, use and care for the waters of the Great Lakes now and into the future.

Project Goals:

PEC's overall goals in the Lake Erie watershed are to facilitate the conservation of Lake Erie (from both quality and quantity perspectives), and the restoration of already-impacted areas of the Lake, such as the Presque Isle Bay Area of Concern.With particular respect to the water quantity goal, the governors' and premiers' endorsement of the Great Lakes Compact was only the first step in the process of ratifying the Compact. This precedent-setting agreement cannot become effective in the U.S. until each of the eight Great Lakes states enact concurrent legislation, and until the U.S. Congress consents to the agreement. PEC's objective is to facilitate ratification of the Compact in Pennsylvania and in the other Great Lakes states.

Major milestones/successes to date:

Over the past year, PEC has laid the groundwork for ratification of the Great Lakes Compact in Pennsylvania by identifying key stakeholders, developing consensus legislation, building a coalition of environmental and conservation organizations, identifying and organizing unique opportunities to partner with non-traditional allies, and educating decision-makers. PEC's activities have been crucial in educating, supporting, and unifying the broad array of Pennsylvania stakeholders that have taken an interest in this issue. PEC is helping to conserve and restore Lake Erie by serving on organizations such as Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Planning Committee, the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund Policy Committee, and the Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee.

Current/upcoming plans:

Facilitate Pennsylvania ratification of the Compact and assist in the ratification of the Compact in other Great Lakes states.

Continue to help Pennsylvania develop a water resources plan for the Lake Erie basin by serving on the state's regional water resources planning committee.

Continue to serve on Lake Erie regional and Great Lakes basin-wide consultative and decision-making bodies.

Provide continued outreach, education and technical assistance to stakeholders throughout the Lake Erie watershed regarding Lake Erie protection and restoration issues.

Great Lakes Conservation and Restoration

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