Appendix 3: Candidate Ecological Benchmark

Source Type: Laws or Policies (and related guidelines)

Source Name: Can-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Number:17/64

Benchmark:
To restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. To clean up 43 locations across the Great Lakes basin known as Areas of Concern which have impairments such as contaminated sediments, eutrophication (excess nutrients), degraded fish and wildlife populations, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat.

Applies to whom: All, especially Remedial Action Plan teams

Applies to what: Areas of Concern

Applies where: Great Lakes Basin

Reference:
Governments of Canada and the United States. Revised 1987. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978. Office Consolidation International Joint Commission United States and Canada.

Evaluation:

Effective: 4

Effective Comments:
Adverse effects that further contribute to the impairment of Areas of Concern such as contaminated sediments, eutrophication (excess nutrients), degraded fish and wildlife populations, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat, should be considered significant.

Authoritative: 5

Authoritative Comments: International agreement

Relevant: 6

Relevant Comments:
Areas of Concern speak clearly to ecological context criterion, also pertains to loss of habitat, population declines.

Sound: 5

Sound Comments: Areas of Concern identified after years of scientific investigation

Straightforward: 2

Straightforward Comments:

Practical: 3

Practical Comments:

Total Effective + Authority Score: 9

Total Overall Score: 25

|  Appendix 3 - Laws or Policies (and related guidelines) |