2021 Great Lakes Regional Poll - Media Toolkit
Click on the links below to view, download or link to a variety of infographics that communicate topic-based results of the IJC Great Lakes Water Quality Board’s 2021 Great Lakes Regional Poll. You may copy and paste the key messages to post along with the graphics of your choice on social media, or adapt them to include in your own resources, presentations and more. Please credit the "IJC Great Lakes Water Quality Board."
Click to jump to infographics on: climate change, drinking water, swimming and recreation, water quality status and trends, fish and wildlife, views on regulation, pollution and algal blooms, invasive species, valuing the Great Lakes, and the views of First Nations, Métis and Tribal Nation members.Climate Change
#GreatLakes residents are concerned about negative impacts of #climatechange on #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
The impacts of #climatechange on #GreatLakes #waterquality are concerning to 3 in 4 residents (75%), according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-values
3 in 4 #GreatLakes residents (76%) feel #climatechange has a NEGATIVE IMPACT on Great Lakes #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-impact
61% of residents think that the impacts of heavy rainstorms on #infrastructure have negative consequences for#GreatLakes health and #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-impact
Drinking Water
#GreatLakes residents views about #drinkingwater are mixed when it comes to the safety of source water and affordable, equitable community access, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
Nearly half of residents said their tap #drinkingwater comes from the #GreatLakes (22%) and local lakes/rivers (24%), while 29% said their #tapwater is from municipal sources, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-source-water
#GreatLakes residents have mixed views: 1 in 3 (36%) said it’s safe and 1 in 3 (29%) said it’s not safe to drink water from the Great Lake nearest to them, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-objectives
Half of #GreatLakes residents (50%) agree that all members of their community have AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE ACCESS to #drinkingwater, but 23% disagree, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-community-water
Swimming and Recreation
Using the #GreatLakes for recreation and leisure is important to 91% of residents, while 40% said it's safe to #swim in their nearest lake, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
46% of #GreatLakes residents said they use the lakes for recreation/leisure, YET 9 in 10 (91%) said it's important the lakes are available for recreation/leisure, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-recreation
Since the @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board began its #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll in 2015, a steadily-increasing majority of residents say it's important that the #GreatLakes are available for recreation. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-recreation
4 in 5 #LakeSuperior & #LakeHuron basin residents said it's safe to swim in their lake, while #LakeMichigan, #LakeErie & #LakeOntario basin residents’ views were mixed, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-objectives
Water Quality Status and Trends
#LakeSuperior & #LakeHuron residents feel their lakes' health is good; #LakeMichigan, #LakeErie & #LakeOntario residents feel their lakes' health is poor, according to @ijcsharedwaters #GreatLakes Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
More than 4 in 5 people (81%) are concerned about the health and #waterquality of their nearest #GreatLakes, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-values
Residents of #LakeSuperior & #LakeHuron basins feel their lakes’ health and #waterquality is good and staying about the same, according to @ijcsharedwaters #GreatLakes Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-status-trends
Residents of #LakeMichigan, #LakeErie & #LakeOntario feel their lakes’ health and #waterquality is poor and staying about the same or deteriorating, according to @ijcsharedwaters #GreatLakes Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-status-trends
Fish and Wildlife
While 10% of #GreatLakes residents said they go #fishing recreationally, 83% said it's important to protect the lakes’ #waterquality for the benefit of #fish & #wildlife, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
#MVP Most Valuable Piscine: more than 4 in 5 #GreatLakes residents (83%) agree the lakes’ #waterquality should be protected to benefit #fish & #wildlife, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-values
No exaggeration in this #fish story: 10% of #GreatLakes residents said they engage in recreational #fishing or #icefishing, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-fishing-recreation
28% of #GreatLakes residents think it’s safe to eat #fish from their nearest lake, BUT nearly 2 in 5 (38%) think it's unsafe, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-objectives
Views on Regulation
59% of #GreatLakes residents feel there are too few #regulations protecting #waterquality and 78% feel the #economy of the region will suffer without healthy lakes, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
Nearly 4 in 5 #GreatLakes residents (78%) agree that the #economy of the region will suffer if the Great Lakes are not healthy, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-values
Nearly 3 in 5 #GreatLakes residents (59%) feel there are TOO FEW policies, #regulations, programs and actions in place to protect the lakes, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-regulations
More than 1 in 3 #GreatLakes residents (35%) said the FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS should be responsible for protecting the lakes; health and #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-responsibility
Pollution and Algal Blooms
#GreatLakes residents feel there are too few regulations to protect the lakes’ #waterquality from challenges including pollution and runoff sources that cause #algalblooms, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
2 in 5 #GreatLakes residents said #pollution is the most significant challenge to their nearest lake, including industrial pollution, runoff, oil spills and plastics, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-challenges
#Pollution and runoff sources that cause #algalblooms are among the top areas where #GreatLakes residents feel there are too few regulations protecting the lakes, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-regulations
Nearly 9 in 10 #GreatLakes residents (86%) feel #algalblooms have a negative impact on the lakes’ health and #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-impact
Invasive Species
Unwelcome guests: #GreatLakes residents said invasive (nonnative) plants & animals are a top challenge to the lakes and have a negative impact on #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
1 in 5 #GreatLakes residents (18%) said invasive species (nonnative plants and animals) are a top challenge to the health of the lake they feel most connected with, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-challenges
More than 4 in 5 #GreatLakes residents (83%) feel that invasive species (nonnative plants and animals) have a negative impact on the lakes’ #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-impact
#GreatLakes residents feel there are too few regulations protecting the lakes from invasive species (nonnative plants and animals), according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-regulations
Valuing the Great Lakes
A majority of #GreatLakes residents feel the lakes are important, want actions now to benefit future generations, and will take actions in their home to protect them, according to @IJCsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
Overwhelming majority: 9 in 10 residents now believe it's important to protect #GreatLakes health and #waterquality, according to @IJCsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-importance
Healthy #waters are a valuable inheritance: 80% of #GreatLakes residents agree actions should be taken now to protect the lakes’ #waterquality for future generations, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-values
A majority of #GreatLakes residents said they'd take actions at home like conserve water use (78%), watch what goes down their drain (86%) and reduce plastic waste (76%), according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-actions
Views of First Nations, Métis and Tribal Nation Members
The large majority of First Nations, Métis & Tribal Nation members said the #GreatLakes are important for individuals & federal governments to protect for future generations, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-results
99% of First Nations members agree that actions should be taken now to protect the #GreatLakes for the benefit of future generations, per @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-Indigenous
90% of Métis members feel there are too few policies and regulations in place to protect the #GreatLakes, compared to 59% of residents overall, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-Indigenous
9 in 10 Tribal Nations members believe the role of the individual is important for protecting #GreatLakes health and #waterquality, according to @ijcsharedwaters Water Quality Board 2021 #GreatLakesH2OpinionPoll. Report: bit.ly/GLPoll-Indigenous
