The Governments of Canada and the United States are pleased to release the State of the Great Lakes 2025 report, which provides an overview of the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
The Great Lakes continue to be an excellent source of drinking water and beaches are safe for swimming and recreational use throughout much of the swimming season. There has been tremendous progress to restore and protect the Great Lakes, including the reduction of toxic chemicals and the reduction in the establishment of new non-native aquatic species. Some indicators demonstrate that there are still significant challenges, including the impacts of nutrients, especially in Lake Erie and localized areas of the other lakes, and the impacts of invasive species, especially the ongoing effects of Zebra and Quagga Mussels.
The coordinated actions of many agencies, organizations, groups and individuals are accelerating efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes so they can continue to be a reliable source for drinking water, fishing, recreation and other uses that support the region’s economy. Overall, the Great Lakes are assessed by the State of the Great Lakes indicators as Fair and the trend is Unchanging.
Pursuant to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States, together with their many partners, have established a suite of 9 indicators of ecosystem health to assess the state of the Great Lakes. The assessment is based on indicators such as drinking water, fish consumption, and beach closures. Over 200 government and non-government Great Lakes scientists and other experts worked to assemble available data and help prepare the report.
State of the Great Lakes Report (PDF 10 MB)