Resolution: Restoration Planning in the Binational Lake St. Clair Watershed
Adopted on October 15, 2002

Whereas, the Lake St. Clair watershed is a vitally important binational resource that provides substantial ecological, recreational and commercial benefits to the United States and Canada; and

Whereas, Lake St. Clair has suffered from numerous human-related impacts, including nonpoint source pollution, combined and sanitary sewer overflows, beach closures, shoreline modifications, industrial discharges, contaminated sediments, and exotic species introductions; and

Whereas, Lake St. Clair has not been formally designated as an Area of Concern or Lakewide Management Plan and therefore has lacked a unified and comprehensive management structure to protect, restore and enhance the lake and its watershed; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission, in collaboration with numerous U.S. and Canadian partners, is pursuing a suite of management initiatives for Lake St. Clair that are addressing critical environmental issues and elevating the lake's profile within the broader Great Lakes management framework.

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission applauds the progress made by its many U.S., Canadian and tribal authority/First Nation partners in laying the foundation for a comprehensive Lake St. Clair management plan, binational management structure, monitoring framework and coastal habitat restoration plan; and

Be it further resolved, that the Commission urges its member states and provinces, as well as its federal agency and tribal authority/First Nations partners to carefully consider initiative products and associated recommendations in the interest of restoring and protecting Lake St. Clair's beneficial uses; and

Be it further resolved, that the Commission urges the Congress to carefully consider outcomes from these projects and provide the necessary authority and funding to support implementation of key recommendations for protecting and restoring Lake St. Clair; and

Be it finally resolved, that the Commission recognizes that the many "lessons learned" from this challenging binational initiative may be of relevance as the region's leadership moves forward with basinwide restoration planning efforts.

Unanimously adopted by the Great Lakes Commission at its Annual Meeting, October 15, 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio.