Our Work

Resilient Great Lakes Basin

The Great Lakes Commission is working to ensure that Great Lakes basin communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and the economy can withstand, adapt to, and recover from climate-related stressors and changing conditions to ensure equitable and inclusive social, economic, and environmental well-being across the basin.

Clean and Safe Water

The Great Lakes Commission is working to ensure that Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River water resources are protected from pollution and impacts from climate change and extreme weather; are accessible to people; provide high-quality drinking water; and are managed in a balanced, equitable, and sustainable manner for the benefit of current and future generations.

Sustainable Water Use

The Great Lakes Commission is working to ensure that communities, businesses, and agriculture sustainably leverage Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River water resources as assets to support strong economies and a high quality of life for all residents.

Safe and Reliable Waterways

The Great Lakes Commission is working to ensure that harbors and waterways support recreational uses and a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River maritime transportation system that efficiently and sustainably moves goods and enhances the competitiveness of the region’s economy and international trade.

Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems

The Great Lakes Commission is working to ensure that aquatic ecosystems and habitats support diverse and healthy fish and wildlife populations, are protected from the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species and other stressors and provide cultural and economic benefits to local communities.

Great Lakes Advocacy and Communications

The Great Lakes Commission helps its member states and provinces speak with a common voice by coordinating, analyzing, and advocating for shared priorities. Each year, the GLC coordinates Great Lakes Day, an event that brings together members of Congress and hundreds of regional leaders who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. The GLC also leads a binational coalition of regional agencies, Indigenous Nations, legislators, local communities, and business, maritime and environmental groups in releasing annual shared priorities for restoring the Great Lakes and supporting the region’s economy.

The Great Lakes Commission helps our party states and provinces and partners organizations share critical information and speak with a common voice on regional priorities. The GLC publishes Great Lakes Daily News, an email digest of news articles of interest to the Great Lakes community, curated by GLC staff. The GLC also administers email groups focused on Great Lakes issues, including groups focused on Great Lakes announcements and job postings, and hosts the Great Lakes Regional Calendar, which features events from around the region that may be of interest to stakeholders.

Great Lakes Data Sharing

The Great Lakes Commission is a leader in mapping and analysis for the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Our mapping and analysis work and Geographic Information System (GIS) files, called map layers, are available for public use.