Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative

The Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (the “Initiative”) is a program to improve the quality of the waters in the Great Lakes system. The main objective of the Initiative is to reduce the discharge of bioaccumulative compounds of concern (BCCs) into the Great Lakes system. The first phase of the Initiative consisted of the development of a consistent set of water quality criteria to be applied throughout the Great Lakes system by the Great Lakes States and by any Indian Tribes that have jurisdiction over portions of the Great Lakes system. The second phase of the Initiative, called the Great Lakes Toxic Reduction Effort (GLTRE), is under development. The GLTRE focuses on reducing BCCs contributed to the Great Lakes system by nonpoint sources. Keywords: Great Lakes; water quality initiative; mixing zones; water quality criteria; water quality standards; bioaccumulative compounds of concern; persistent and bioaccumulative toxic compounds; BCC; PBT; antidegradation policy; human health; aquatic life; wildlife; toxic reduction effort