Our Work
Here’s some of the work we’re doing to ensure a healthy environment, strong economy and high quality of life for current and future generations.
Register now!
Registration is now open for the 2026 Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day, to be held March 3-5 in Washington, D.C.! Online registration closes February 23. We look forward to seeing you in D.C.!
2024 Great Lakes Commission Annual Report
The 2024 Great Lakes Commission Annual Report is now available online! The GLC’s Annual Report includes highlights and key accomplishments under Chair Mary Mertz of Ohio, and Executive Director Erika Jensen.
New Great Lakes water use report
The 2024 Annual Report of the Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database shows that water withdrawals in the basin remained stable, with the vast majority of withdrawn water returned to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin. Read more here.
Thank you!
Thank you for joining us for the 2025 Great Lakes Commission 70th Anniversary Annual Meeting, held October 28-30 in Duluth, Minnesota! Read more about the meeting here.
The Advisor
The October 2025 edition of the Commission’s e-newsletter, The Advisor, includes final registration information for the 2025 GLC Annual Meeting in Duluth and a recap of several recent program accomplishments.
Great Lakes Investment Tracker
The new Great Lakes Investment Tracker is an interactive mapping application developed by the Great Lakes Commission to showcase federally-funded projects in Great Lakes states.
Spreading ice in Detroit region leads to ice cutters, jam fears and ice fishing
The long-term cold spell that has settled over Michigan has quickly expanded the ice cover on the Great Lakes and other waterways, forcing vessels to adapt, creating fears of ice jams and providing leisure activities for those wanting to take advantage of the thick...
Counting burbot
Researchers are partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to gather information on awareness, values and preferences for recreational burbot fishing within the Lake Superior basin. Read the full story by the Daily Mining Gazette.
Stricter ballast rules on freighters demanded to protect Great Lakes from invasive species
To prevent further spread of potentially catastrophic invasive species in the Great Lakes, the Canadian government is moving forward with tighter restrictions on all freighters. Read the full story by the Chicago Tribune.
The Advisor E-Newsletter: January 2026
The January 2026 edition of the Commission’s e-newsletter, The Advisor, includes a save the date for Great Lakes Day and the GLC Semiannual Meeting; an update on U.S. federal Great Lakes appropriations; and news about our upcoming work to study the economic impacts of...
Season’s Greetings from the Great Lakes Commission!
Season’s greetings from the staff of the Great Lakes Commission!
New Great Lakes water use report demonstrates shared stewardship of the world’s largest freshwater system
Ann Arbor, Michigan/Chicago, Illinois — A report released today on Great Lakes water use demonstrates the region’s ongoing commitment to coordinated, science-based management of the world’s largest freshwater system. The 2024 Annual Report of the Great Lakes Regional...
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Get the latest Great Lakes Commission news and events in your inbox!
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Get the latest Great Lakes Commission news and events in your inbox!
GREAT LAKES EVENTS
For more events, visit the
Great Lakes Calendar
Great Lakes Public Forum under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
February 4 - February 5Great Lakes Public Forum – Clean Water through Cooperative Partnerships
February 4 - February 5Great Lakes Seminar Series: Charlyn Partridge
February 18