ABSTRACT
Governance institutions were established in the Great Lakes region, in response to high-profi le crisis situations. Th e Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 evolved in response to water quantity disputes involving hydropower development and water quality problems causing human diseases and deaths that peaked around 1900. As eutrophication problems worsened in the 1950s and 1960s, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) of 1972 was attached to the Treaty as a permanent reference. Th e Agreement has since been revised in 1978 and 1987 to address other environmental issues. It was in 1987 that amendments were made to strengthen the programs, practices and technologies mentioned in the 1978 amendment to increase the accountability for their implementation, including setting up a timeline for implementation. At this time annexes were added to address atmospheric deposition of toxic pollutants, contaminated sediment, groundwater and non-point sources of pollution. Forty two areas around the Great Lakes were identifi ed as Areas of Concern (AOC), these areas were heavily degraded and required restoration plans and programs to regenerate eco-system services. At this point Annexes were also added to incorporate the development and implementation of Remedial Action Plans for AOC and Lake-wide Management Plans to control critical pollutants. Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) are perhaps the best example of community-based environmental protection in existence. Th rough the collaboration between public and private institutions, the RAPs apply a watershed approach to ecosystem regeneration and protection, as they progress towards the re-establishment of benefi cial uses.
