US-Canadian Agency: More Work Needed To Protect Great Lakes

By JOHN FLESHER/AP Environmental Writer

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - A U.S.-Canadian agency says both nations have done well at preventing Great Lakes water from being overused or raided by outsiders but could take additional steps to strengthen their legal protection.

The International Joint Commission released a report Tuesday assessing the performance of the region's governments in carrying out recommendations it made 15 years ago to safeguard the lakes, which make up one-fifth of the world's surface fresh water.

It says a compact between the eight Great Lakes states and similar legislation approved by the provinces of Ontario and Quebec set tough limits on diverting water outside their natural basin.

But advises them to consider using public trust law to make the protections even tighter in case climate change or other future developments intensify pressure to misuse the lakes.

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