Resolution: A Basinwide Study of Land Use Trends, Impacts and Policy Responses
Adopted on October 3, 2003

Whereas, the linkage between land use and water quality has been increasingly well documented in recent years; and

Whereas, scientists, managers and policymakers have improved their understanding of how land development and land use changes can and do influence water quality, ecosystem health and economic prosperity; and

Whereas, the continuing urbanization of the Great Lakes basin, particularly in coastal areas and along major tributaries, has significant implications for issues such as environmental quality, transportation requirements, water supply and treatment infrastructure costs; and

Whereas, urbanization in recent decades has often been characterized by development of former agricultural lands and open space into low density residential, retail and commercial areas in such a manner that land consumption rates have far outpaced population growth; and

Whereas, unsound land management practices often create attendant issues for water use and waste management and can have negative impacts such as decreased permeability of land, increased runoff, heightened nonpoint source pollution problems, and loss of prime farmland; and

Whereas, informed land use planning and management practices, including brownfields redevelopment and land protection programs, have demonstrated environmental, socio-economic, cultural and quality of life benefits; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission has exercised its basin planning authority through recent studies that have yielded a suite of strategies to enhance the state and provincial role in sustainable land use; and

Whereas, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of a seminal study by the International Joint Commission's Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference Group (PLUARG) that first documented in detail the water quality impacts associated with land use; and

Whereas, the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission has called for a major binational investigation and research effort that updates and expands this study.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission supports the concept of a major binational study to update understanding of land use trends and impacts in the Great Lakes basin, and suggest prospective policy responses based on environmentally and economically responsible design solutions; and

Be It Further Resolved, that such a study will build upon the growing body of urban growth management work presently being implemented at the state, provincial and municipal levels; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission pledges to work in partnership with other relevant agencies and organizations toward that end and, as appropriate, provide technical, planning, policy and outreach services that yield recommendations for environmentally and economically sound land use management practices.

Unanimously adopted by the Great Lakes Commission at its 2003 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, October 3, 2003.