Network of Experts Working to Protect Our Great Lakes

An Intern’s Perspective

By Hanan Abdillahi, ELPC Intern, Summer 2024

A crown jewel of North America

The Great Lakes account for 21 percent of the world’s freshwater and spans 4,530 miles of coast. More than 30 million Americans and Canadians rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water. In addition to this crucial resource, the Great Lakes support manufacturing, transportation, farming, tourism, recreation, energy production, and other forms of economic growth, provide numerous benefits that bolster the economies of both nations. This supports 311,000 jobs spanning every sector, such as tourism, recreation, and marine transportation, and adds up to $8.8 billion in wages. The Great Lakes also offer significant intrinsic value and are vital to the Indigenous communities around the basin of the Great Lakes waters where plants and wildlife provide the sustaining of traditional ways of living and cultural practices.

Threats & Climate Change

The Great Lakes system struggles with invasive species, harmful land use changes, nonpoint source pollution, toxic contamination, and coastal habitat loss. The impacts of climate change further threaten the vibrant ecosystems of the Great Lakes, endangering wildlife, drinking water, and the regional economy. Some impacts include:

Extreme and rapid fluctuation in lake levels
Warming temperatures worsening harmful algal blooms
Increased runoff pollution
Warmer temperatures increasing invasive species populations
Severe storm events causing sewer overflows and neighborhood flooding

Protecting this vital resource, especially in the face of increasing climate change risks, is crucial and requires the collective effort of dedicated individuals from various backgrounds and fields.

ELPC Great Lakes Directory

The Environmental Law & Policy Center Great Lakes Directory lists over 400 experts, including scientists, attorneys, and policy specialists, who work to protect the Great Lakes. This past summer, I updated the directory by revising contact information, noting any changes in leadership, and documenting new roles for individuals. This was a fascinating process, and I enjoyed reading the biographies of professionals across the United States and Canada, exploring diverse research areas, and learning about the numerous organizations and entities dedicated to protecting the Great Lakes and water resources.

Click here to explore the full directory. You can click the search button to browse through the directory or select a pin on the map to search by location.

Throughout this process, it became clear that protecting the Great Lakes relies heavily on the collaboration of various stakeholders from different sectors, including government agencies, non-profits, Indigenous groups, and private sector partners. The collective efforts of these diverse groups are essential.

Highlighting Two Experts: Binational Cooperation

A recent ELPC Thinks Webinar showcased two leaders from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus (GLLC), Illinois State Senator Laura Fine and Ontario MPP Jennifer French.

The GLLC is a binational, nonpartisan organization of state and provincial legislators passionate about policies to protect and restore the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin. They aim to empower state and provincial legislators by providing a platform for collaboration and advancing legislation to ensure the restoration, protection, and sustainable use of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River for present and future generations.

The work of the GLLC is focused on water quality issues such as water consumption, nutrient management, aquatic invasive species, toxic substances, and coastal resiliency. The GLLC is the only Great Lakes organization with members who can enact laws and allocate funding at the state and provincial levels. During the 2021-2022 legislative session, one-third of bills and resolutions were introduced or co-sponsored by GLLC members. Some legislative wins include increased regulations on pesticides in Illinois, allocated additional funds to water infrastructure in Michigan, changed development regimes for flood zones in Québec, and much more. Highlighting the international cooperation between the United States and Canada, joint initiatives like the GLLC emphasize the importance of a collective approach to addressing these critical issues.

Senator Fine is currently the GLLC Vice Chair, having previously served as Illinois’ representative on the Executive Committee. MPP French has been a GLLC member since 2018 and is serving her third term on the Executive Committee.

Conclusion

Through my internship with the Environmental Law & Policy Center, updating the Great Lakes Directory has given me a great appreciation for the dedicated network of experts working diligently to protect our Great Lakes. This vital resource, essential to millions and rich in ecological and economic value, faces significant challenges from climate change and other threats. The collaborative efforts of scientists, policymakers, Indigenous communities, and various stakeholders are crucial in addressing these issues. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus stands out an example of binational cooperation, highlighting the power of a united approach in safeguarding our shared waters. The collective commitment of all involved is key to ensuring the health and sustainability of the Great Lakes for generations