In accordance to Article 5, Section 2(c) of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Parties (U.S. and Canada):
“…shall establish, in consultation with the Great Lakes Executive Committee, binational priorities for science and action to address current and future threats to the quality of the Water of the Great Lakes, not later than six months after each Great Lakes Public Forum. The priorities shall be established based on an evaluation of the state of the Great Lakes and input received during the Great Lakes Public Forum and recommendations of the [International Joint] Commission.”
The following draft priorities for science and action were developed for the purposes of discussion at the Great Lakes Public Forum. They are intended to guide and focus the key activities implemented by Canada and the U.S. from 2026 to 2028. Accomplishments and results related to these priorities would be reported on in the 2028 Progress Report of the Parties.
Canada and the U.S. are interested in hearing your thoughts on these draft priorities during the Forum, as well as during the written comment period following the Forum. Input received will further inform the development of these priorities, which will be finalized and posted on binational.net within six months following the Forum.
Priorities represent the key science and action required to advance the achievement of the General and Specific Objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in the context of each Annex of the Agreement. Priorities for 2026-2028 are not intended to capture all science and action that will be undertaken over this period.
Kindly use the Contact Us page to direct your comments on the draft priorities by March 31, 2026.
Draft 2026-2028 Binational Priorities for Science and Action
| ANNEX | PRIORITIES FOR ACTION | PRIORITIES FOR SCIENCE |
| Annex 1 – Areas of Concern | Implement remedial actions that address beneficial use impairments and advance the AOC delisting processes. | Conduct sampling and monitoring (including sediment) to assess beneficial use impairment (BUI) status and determine whether removal criteria have been met. |
| Annex 2 – Lakewide Management | Implement actions identified in Lakewide Action and Management Plans (LAMPs). Implement a streamlined and efficient approach for the publication of LAMP documents, including the release of draft LAMPS for Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario in early 2026 and: • By the end of 2026, update and publish the Lake Superior LAMP. • By the end of 2027, update and publish the Lake Huron LAMP. • By the end of 2028, update and publish the Lake Ontario LAMP. | Identify and recommend to the Science Annex the needed science and monitoring for the intensive field year of a Great Lake for the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI). |
| Annex 3 – Chemicals of Mutual Concern | Review the current criteria-based screening process and previously published Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMC) Binational Strategies to inform the implementation of a more efficient approach to determining CMCs and preparing binational strategies. Complete reviews of radionuclides, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplastics. Great Lakes jurisdictions to provide fish consumption advisories for the protection of human health. | Conduct monitoring and surveillance in Great Lakes to track trends of contaminants in environmental media. |
| Annex 4 – Nutrients | Implement the Lake Erie binational phosphorus reduction strategy and domestic action plans to make progress towards achieving phosphorus load reduction targets in priority watersheds. | Track, evaluate and binationally report on changes in phosphorus loads to Lake Erie and Lake Ecosystem Objectives, including the extent of harmful and nuisance algal blooms, and hypoxia. Improve understanding of phosphorus inputs, fate, and nearshore algal growth impacts in Lake Ontario. |
| Annex 5 – Discharges from Vessels | Conduct compliance examinations of vessels operating in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway to ensure that vessels entering and/or operating on the Great Lakes adhere to domestic and international environmental standards and regulations. Ensure planning and preparedness for responses under Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan to pollution incidents in the Waters of the Great Lakes. | Conduct research on effectiveness of environmental management practices in use by vessels operating in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Conduct research on tools to support monitoring compliance of vessels with environmental standards and regulations. |
| Annex 6 – Aquatic Invasive Species | Take actions to prevent introductions of new invasive species into the Great Lakes, including silver carp, bighead carp, and black carp, and conduct surveillance and response actions to prevent the establishment of grass carp and other high-risk species in the Great Lakes. Implement control projects for invasive species already in the Great Lakes basin. | Research and develop technologies and methods for control of AIS and eradication where feasible. Improve understanding of the risks and impacts associated with introductions of AIS. |
| Annex 7 – Habitat and Species | Implement actions to protect and restore the resilience of native species and their habitats to support Great Lakes water quality. | |
| Annex 8 – Groundwater | Support activities to enhance groundwater science to inform management actions. | |
| Annex 9 – Climate Change Impacts | Provide Great Lakes weather and water level information to support Great Lakes resources managers’ decision-making. | |
| Annex 10 – Science | Issue the State of the Great Lakes 2028 Report. | Implement the binational Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative to coordinate planning, delivery and reporting of science to gather data and information that help assess the health of the lake ecosystem and guide management actions. |