Celebrating 15 Years of Lake Protection & Restoration

Mon, 07/10/2006 - 08:53 — Lake Superior B...

?Water is life, and the quality of water determines the quality of life.?*

At the headwaters of the Great Lakes lies the mighty Lake Superior, the largest, cleanest and healthiest of the five lakes that make up 20 percent of the world?s freshwater. Since 1991, citizens and organizations from around the lake?s basin have collaborated through the Lake Superior Binational Program to make sure Lake Superior stays that way.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2006, the Binational Program was established through an agreement among Lake Superior federal, state, provincial, and tribal governments in Canada and the United States who share access to Lake Superior. The Program works to coordinate conservation efforts, keep the public informed on important issues, and advise lawmakers on how best to protect the lake.

The Binational Program has two components eliminating chemical contaminants in the lake through the Zero Discharge Demonstration Program and protecting the health of the broader ecosystem.

The Zero Discharge Demonstration Program sets an ambitious reduction schedule that seeks to eliminate in-basin discharges of nine toxic chemicals by 2020. This program, which seeks to be a model for other lakes, has reduced the introduction of these persistent chemicals by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

According to John Marsden, Lake Superior coordinator of restoration programs at Environment Canada, ?Communities, industries and government partners on both sides of the border continue to achieve cooperative success to reduce critical pollutants. This is being accomplished through hazardous waste collections, the phase-out of equipment containing critical pollutants, and outreach to individuals, communities and industry to reduce the nine toxic chemicals targeted in the Lake Superior Zero Discharge Demonstration Program.?

The Broader Program to Protect and Restore Lake Superior addresses ecosystem health issues that affect both humans and the lake, such as habitat quality, land use change, terrestrial wildlife, invasive species, economic development and sustainable development.

The Binational Program is implemented cooperatively by four groups with a wide range of interests

? The Lake Superior Task Force is made up of senior binational governmental officials at the federal, state, and provincial levels that steer the program and make critical management decisions.
? The Superior Work Group, including specialists from federal, state, tribal, and provincial governmental agencies, is responsible for scientific research and development and implementation of protection and restoration actions.
? The Lake Superior Binational Forum consists of volunteers from the United States and Canada who represent different community sectors. The Forum links the Program to the public by offering public input to governments and educating the public about lake issues.
? Finally, the Public--citizens, businesses, industry, and groups located in the Lake Superior basin--also have a place in the Binational Program. They keep a close watch on their own communities; their daily efforts to improve water quality through conservation and sound environmental practices are vital to the lake?s continued good health.

The guiding plan for all action taken by the Program is the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP), completed in 2000. It outlines a series of goals, timelines and actions for restoration, protection and maintenance of the ecosystem. The LaMP contains chemical milestone, habitat and ecosystem goals as well as actions for achieving them. A LaMP progress report is published every two years which describes accomplishments and challenges in meeting goals. The 2006 report was completed for Earth Day, April 22, 2006, and is available at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/lakesuperior/2006/index.html

The Binational Program is proud of its many notable accomplishments over the years. Mercury emissions into the lake have been reduced by over 60 percent. The release of chemicals, such as banned pesticides, has also been widely prevented through safe collection programs called Clean Sweeps. Lake trout populations are almost restored to historic levels. Land has been protected along river ways. Recycling options have improved, and more people are learning about their lake and how to keep it clean. The Forum established an Environmental Stewardship Award in 2004 to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and businesses. Citizens around the lake celebrate Lake Superior Day every year on the third Sunday of July.

Challenges facing Lake Superior and the Binational Program include protecting critical lake and tributary habitats; establishing long-term monitoring programs for fish and terrestrial communities; increased and new sources of mercury, including mining emissions; out-of-basin sources of various pollutants; new and emerging chemical and contaminants; preventing additional terrestrial and aquatics invasive species; backyard trash burning, which releases dioxins to the ecosystem; and managing land use change.

According to the Forum?s U.S. Co-Chair Bruce Lindgren, the cooperation between governmental agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and private citizens is what has made the Lake Superior Binational Program so strong for 15 years. ?Lake Superior is a defining element of all of our lives in this region,? he said. ?Everyone, working together, will be needed to reduce a big lake's big problems.?

US Environmental Protection Agency Lake Superior Manager Elizabeth LaPlante says the program has accomplished many of its goals, which has led to an overall improvement in the lake?s condition.

?However, we have much more to do,? said LaPlante. ?We need to continue to address reducing sources of mercury, PCBs, and dioxins to the lake. But we also need to address emerging contaminants such as flame retardants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. We need to forge better linkages with other ongoing efforts and to help implement the highest priorities of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration strategy.?

With continued care and attention, the natural environment of the Lake Superior basin should endure as part of a healthy, sustainable life for generations to come.

By
Gary Gulezian
Director
Great Lakes National Program Office

Liz LaPlante
Lake Superior Regional Team Manager
USEPA/Great Lakes National Program Office

*Excerpt from the Lake Superior Binational Program vision statement.

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