Illinois is now the second state to adopt the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Resources Compact, a legally binding agreement among the eight Great Lakes states to “act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve and effectively manage the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources of the Basin.”

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed House Bill 375, sponsored by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) and State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), which ratifies the Compact. In December 2005 the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin endorsed the interstate compact, which was also endorsed by the Governors and the Premiers of Ontario and Québec. To become law, the interstate compact must be approved by each of the State legislatures, and the U.S. Congress must give its consent. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the compact into law earlier this year and bills are pending in Indiana, Michigan and New York. Action is anticipated in coming months in the other states.

The agreement details unprecedented management and protection practices for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, particularly how much water can be withdrawn, and provides a framework for each State and Province to enact protective laws. Of the 33 million people who share and depend upon water from the Great Lakes Basin, 6 million are Illinois residents who receive substantial economic and ecological benefits from Lake Michigan.

Passage of approval of the Great Lakes Compact was one of the primary policy goals of the IEC in the 2007 legislative session, as outlined in the 2007 Briefing Book. Click here to read more about the importance of this agreement.