Wednesday, December 24, 2025
The International Joint Commission has released a new binational report assessing how water is being diverted and used across the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River basin, recommending stronger transparency, Indigenous participation and data-sharing are needed to protect the system amid growing environmental and economic pressures.
The Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes: 2025 Report on Water Diversions and Uses evaluates progress since the commission’s 2015 assessment and offers recommendations aimed at safeguarding the basin’s water resources for future generations.
The study stems from a 1999 request by the governments of Canada and the United States for the IJC to examine consumptive use, removals and diversions of water in shared basins, and to assess how those activities affect water levels, flows and long-term sustainability. The commission committed to reporting on the issue at 10-year intervals.
In its latest findings, the IJC urges Great Lakes states and provinces to continue upholding the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement, while expanding public engagement, collaboration with Indigenous Nations and clarity around how key provisions are interpreted and applied.
“As environmental and economic pressures emerge, the Compact and Agreement are essential tools for resilience,” said U.S. co-chair of the IJC Gerald Acker. “Building resilience ensures that the basin can withstand shocks and stresses while maintaining the ecological and economic benefits that millions of people depend on.”
The report also calls for improved monitoring and reporting, as well as renewed emphasis on conservation, efficiency and sustainable practices by large-scale water users. It recommends clearer definitions of terms used in the compact and agreement, stronger recognition of Indigenous rights, and broader participation in decision-making.
Commissioner Susan Chiblow, appointed by Canada, said better data and stronger science are critical to effective water governance in the region.
“Better data and stronger science will ensure decisions about the Great Lakes are more informed, credible and effective,” she said. “Including Indigenous knowledge and science alongside Western science strengthens our understanding of the basin and supports more comprehensive, sustainable water management.”
The IJC said the report reflects input from governments, academic experts, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations and members of the public. It also drew on a consultants’ report and feedback gathered through a public engagement process conducted in 2025.
The commission will present the findings during a virtual public meeting on Jan. 27, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern time.
The IJC is an independent, binational body established under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty to help Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over shared waters. While the 2025 report focuses on water quantity, the commission also has responsibilities related to Great Lakes water quality under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. A public comment period on governments’ actions to restore and protect water quality is expected to begin in the new year.
