Conclusions

Some gaps in knowledge may exist regarding the effectiveness of individual technologies, best management practices, policies and processes adopted by local jurisdictions to address the impact of their urban area on Great Lakes water quality. However, the overarching challenge in terms of Agreement goals is whether current approaches are sufficient from an overall, basin wide perspective. A comprehensive and binational assessment of the effectiveness of these policies and programs from a basin wide perspective could provide a broader context for local decisions, and at the same time advance achievement towards an ecosystem approach as envisioned by the Agreement. While a binational effort to link local, state/provincial and federal agencies to address the impact of urban land use on Great Lakes water quality has not existed since the days of the Pollution From Land Use Activities Reference Group, ²⁰ many other examples of binational strategic cooperation exist since that time, such as the Binational Toxics Strategy, Lakewide Area Management Plans and the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC). Given the growing interest and awareness of citizens, mayors, developers and all levels of government on the need for effective planning and management of urban growth, the opportunity for a binational Great Lakes basin wide approach to managing pollution due to land use activities is especially timely, practical and relevant.

In the United States and Canada, land use decisions are generally regarded as the exclusive domain of local government, yet local decisions cannot simply be viewed in isolation of other responsibilities at the provincial, state, and federal levels. Because wise land use decisions and effective land management are fundamental to implementing and progressing toward the ecosystem approach envisioned by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, governments need to improve their institutional capacity to coordinate and integrate roles, responsibilities and decisions between and among all levels.