ABSTRACT
The Great Lakes (Fig. 4.1) are the largest freshwater bodies in North America. They are located on the boundary between Canada and the United States. Managing the water levels and fl ows associated with the fi ve Great Lakes and connecting rivers, including the St. Lawrence River that fl ows from the most downstream lake to the Atlantic Ocean, is the responsibility of a bi-national organization established to manage all border waters between Canada and the United States. This organization, called the International Joint Commission (IJC) operates under a Boundary Waters Treaty established in 1909. The IJC serves at the pleasure of the governments of the two countries, and its effectiveness depends in part on what the governments want with respect to the management of the transboundary
waters. When requested to do so by the two federal governments, the IJC has the authority to resolve disputes over the use of water resources that cross the international boundary. Most of its efforts for the Great Lakes have been devoted to carrying out studies requested by the governments and advising the governments about problems.
