Official comments on the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement received by the IJC

National Association of Conservation Districts Great Lakes Committee Comments on Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1978/87) Review

The Great Lakes Committee is a special advisory committee under the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) committee system. Each Great Lakes state association of conservation districts appoints a delegate to the committee, while NACD invites representatives of national and regional agencies to serve as advisors. The Committee addresses unmet needs in regional soil conservation and water quality policy and acts as an important information conduit from the national and regional levels to state associations and district offices. We are also committed to conveying local concerns to regional and federal agencies with a mandate in water quality, soil erosion and sediment control.

Since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, private landowners in the United States have relied on a nationwide system of local conservation agencies known variously as soil and water conservation districts, conservation districts and land conservation committees. Since their inception, districts have provided a variety of resource management and conservation services, advice and education to private landowners and communities. There are currently almost 3,000 districts, including 209 located wholly or partially within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence drainage system. The NACD Great Lakes Committee represents these 209 conservation districts.

Given their origin in the 1930s Dust Bowl, districts have traditionally played a significant role in soil erosion control. Over recent years, districts have expanded their mission as other conservation issues increase in significance. Nation-wide, district programs related to agriculture remain the most significant component of activity. But many districts also address hydromodification and urban and forestry concerns related to fish and wildlife habitat and water quality.

The NACD Great Lakes Committee monitors U.S. and binational legislation and agreements that serve to improve the water quality of the Great Lakes. We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the review process for the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

What do you think about the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement?
- The NACD Great Lakes Committee supports the binational agreement and both countries’ commitments to improve water quality through programs developed since the Agreement’s inception. The Committee strongly supports Annex 13 – Pollution from Nonpoint Sources. The Committee urges the Parties and the IJC, if it oversees Agreement review, to avoid any action that would threaten or weaken Annex 13. Further, the Committee urges the Parties/IJC to include nonpoint source pollution experts in the review process to ensure that this issue remains a priority.
Does it need to be updated?

The Committee has developed recommendations specific to its interest is in Annex 13 – Pollution from Nonpoint Sources:
- Section 1: Purpose: The Committee has no recommended changes to this section. However, the Committee will oppose the removal of any of the examples of nonpoint source inputs listed here, especially sediments.
- Section 2: Implementation: sub-section (a): The Committee urges the Parties to add sediments specifically to the language of this sub-section. While the current language does not stop RAPs and LaMPs from including sediments in the scope of their work, in practice no RAP or LaMP adequately addresses the sediment issue.
- Section 3: Wetlands and their Preservation. The Committee has no recommended changes to this section.
- Section 4: Surveillance, Surveys and Demonstration Projects: The Committee has no recommended changes to this section. However, the Committee urges the Parties to fully implement and sustain the programs called for in this section. The data and information they would generate is fundamental to understanding the remedial impact of activities such as installing buffer strips and implementing no-till agriculture.
- Section 5: Reporting. The Committee has no recommended changes to this section.
Do you have a vision for the future of the Lakes you want to share and shape?
- The NACD Great Lakes Committee is currently developing a science-based process to measure the reduction of sediment loading to the Great Lakes. To this end, the Committee has adopted a sediment reduction goal of 40% per lake by 2013 with the understanding that the goal may be adjusted by lake, and most likely by tributary, as relevant data and information are collected and analyzed.