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 Air and Land Air Quality Coastal Management Ecosystem Management Habitat Islands Land Use Sustainable Development Wetlands Water BeachCast Conservation Levels and Hydrology Quality Quantity and Use Rivers and Lakes Watersheds Flora and Fauna Biodiversity Endangered Species Forests Invasive Species Invasive Mapping People Plants Wildlife Pollution Air Toxics Areas of Concern Human Health Pollution Prevention Soil Erosion Toxic Contamination References Agencies & Organizations Environmental Justice Laws and Policy Sanctuaries and Reserves Research Weather and Climate Lake Conditions Lake Erie Lake Huron Lake Michigan Lake Ontario Lake Superior Also: Lake St. Clair
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Environment of the Great Lakes Region What's New | Overview | General Resources | Agencies & Organizations | Discuss 
What's New Study: Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species (10/3) Published in July 2008 by the Transportation Research Board, in conjunction with the National Research Council of the National Academies, this study advises that the United States should follow Canada's lead and adopt standards identical to those proposed by the International Maritime Organization to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. EDITORIAL: New York builds record with Great Lakes, climate change Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (9/26) Two exciting environmental developments have taken place recently — and New York, to its credit, has been at the forefront of both. TEACH Great Lakes (9/25) Are you interested in learning more about the Great Lakes? Start your exploration with an Introduction to the Great Lakes. Do you have a specific question about the Great Lakes that you've been wondering about? Visit the Great Lakes Vault of Knowledge to submit questions and get answers. Teachers will find resources to teach about the Great Lakes and its fisheries in the Teachers' Corner. Climate expert warns cities to brace for rainy days The Hamilton Spectator (9/24) A Canadian expert says climate change is real, it's getting worse faster than global experts predicted and we better start adapting to it. Congress approves Great Lakes Compact Council of Great Lakes Governors (9/23) Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed a joint resolution providing consent to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Today’s House action follows similar action by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 1, 2008. The resolution now goes to President George W. Bush who has committed to sign it. These actions complete a historic process to establish a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection for the Great Lakes. More riches, green promised The London Free Press (9/23) The Liberals unveiled their full policy platform and it contained new environment promises, including a new national water strategy to regulate and clean up "hot spots" in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg and the St. Lawrence.
Overview The environment of the Great Lakes region is blessed with huge forests and wilderness areas, rich agricultural land, hundreds of tributaries and thousands of smaller lakes, and extensive mineral deposits. The region's glacial history and the tremendous influence of the lakes themselves create unique conditions that support a wealth of biological diversity, including more than 130 rare species and ecosystems. The environment supports a world-class fishery and a variety of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, beaver, muskrat, weasel, fox, black bear, bobcat, moose and other furbearing animals. Bird populations thrive on the various terrains, some migrating south in the winter, others making permanent homes. An estimated 180 species of fish are native to the Great Lakes, including small- and large-mouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, lake herring, whitefish, walleye and lake trout. Rare species making their home in the Great Lakes region include the world's last known population of the white catspaw pearly mussel, the copper redhorse fish and the Kirtland's warbler. The region's sand dunes, coastal marshes, rocky shorelines, lakeplain prairies, savannas, forests, fens, wetlands and other landscapes contain features that are either unique or best represented withink the Great Lakes basin. For example, the world's largest freshwater dunes line the shores of Lake Michigan. Over the course of history, many types of pollution have inflicted and been reduced in the region, yet significant challenges remain. These range from threats to divert water out of the Great Lakes basin to the introduction of nonindigenous invasive species and airborne toxics into the basin. Protection of water quality and sustainable development remain long-term goals.
General Resources Great Lakes Atlas U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) This Environmental Atlas and Resource Book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes, people, concerns, joint management and new directions (mirrored on Environment Canada's site). Great Lakes Radio Consortium The Great Lakes Radio Consortium produces environmentally focused radio features and news featured on more than 100 public radio stations around the Great Lakes region and several national radio programs. Illinois Natural Resources Information Network Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Provides natural resource-related information to the citizens of Illinois so that individuals and groups can make informed decisions about natural resource management and policy. Science & The Environment Bulletin Environment Canada This bimonthly publication provides information on leading-edge environmental science and technology. Includes collections on habitat, pollution, species at risk, water and related topics. Software for Environmental Awareness United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and Purdue University produce free interactive software programs on environmental topics. Summary of Environmental Law in North America Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) The CEC created this summary to improve public access to the environmental law of the three parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement; i.e., Canada, Mexico and the United States. Visualizing the Great Lakes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) GLNPO has an extensive collection of images from around the Great Lakes that is available for you to use.
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