GLIN==> Lake Superior Binational Program: Celebrating 15 Years of Lake Protection and Restoration

["List Manager" <adminpst@great-lakes.net>]

Submitted by Lissa Radke <lradke@northland.edu>

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Lake Superior Binational Program
Celebrating 15 Years of Lake Protection and Restoration

Ashland, Wis.---At the headwaters of the Great Lakes sprawls mighty Lake 
Superior, the cleanest and healthiest of the five lakes that make up 20 
percent of the world's freshwater. Since 1991, citizens and organizations 
from around the lake's basin have collaborated through the Lake Superior 
Binational Program to make sure Lake Superior stays that way.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2006, the Program was established 
through an agreement among federal, state, provincial, and tribal 
governments that share access to Lake Superior. The program works to unify 
conservation efforts, keep the public informed on important issues, and 
advise lawmakers on how best to protect the lake.

Recognizing that "Water is life and the quality of water determines the 
quality of life," as stated in its 1992 Vision Statement, the Program's 
designers decided to focus their work on two shared strategies to improve 
Lake Superior's water quality: eliminating chemical contaminants in the lake 
through the Zero Discharge Demonstration Program and protecting the health 
of the broader ecosystem.

The Zero Discharge Demonstration Program set a rigorous reduction schedule 
that aims to eliminate point source discharges of nine toxic chemicals by 
2020. This program, which seeks to be a model for other lakes, has reduced 
the introduction of some of these persistent chemicals by hundreds of 
thousands of pounds.

According to John Marsden, Lake Superior coordinator of restoration programs 
at Environment Canada, "Communities, industries and government partners on 
both sides of the border continue to achieve cooperative success to reduce 
critical pollutants. This is being accomplished through hazardous waste 
collections, the phase-out of equipment containing critical pollutants, and 
outreach to individuals, communities and industry to reduce the nine toxic 
chemicals targeted in the Lake Superior Zero Discharge Demonstration 
Program."

The Broader Program to Protect and Restore Lake Superior addresses issues 
that benefit both humans and the lake, such as habitat quality, land use 
change, terrestrial wildlife, invasive species, economic development, and 
sustainable development.

The Binational Program is managed by four cooperative groups made up of 
organizations and groups with a wide range of interests. The Lake Superior 
Task Force serves to steer the Program and make management decisions. It's 
made up of senior representatives from binational governmental agencies.

The Superior Work Group, including specialists from state, tribal, and 
provincial governmental agencies, is responsible for scientific research and 
development and implementation of protection and restoration actions. The 
Lake Superior Binational Forum consists of volunteers from the United States 
and Canada who represent different community sectors. The Forum links the 
Program to the general public by offering public input to the governments 
and educating the public about lake issues.

Finally, average citizens, businesses, industry, and groups located in the 
Lake Superior basin also have a place in the Binational Program. They often 
keep closer watch on their own communities than governmental agencies can, 
and their daily efforts to improve water quality through conservation and 
sound environmental practices are vital to the lake's continued good health.

The guiding strategy for all action taken by the Program is the Lakewide 
Management Plan (LaMP), completed in 2000. It outlines a series of goals and 
timelines for chemical reduction. It also contains ecosystem restoration, 
protection, and habitat improvement goals and timelines along with priority 
actions to achieve these. A progress report is published every two years, 
which describes accomplishments and challenges in meeting goals. The 2006 
report was completed for Earth Day, April 22, and will be available soon.

           So far, Lake Superior water quality has been enhanced by the 
work of the Binational Program. Mercury emissions into the lake have been 
reduced by over 60 percent. The release of chemicals, such as banned 
pesticides, has also been widely prevented through safe collection programs 
called Cleansweeps. Lake trout populations are almost restored to historic 
levels. Land has been protected along river ways. Recycling options have 
improved, and more people are learning about their lake and how to keep it 
clean. The Forum established an Environmental Stewardship Award in 2004 to 
recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and businesses, and 
citizens around the lake celebrate Lake Superior Day every year on the third 
Sunday of July.

           The next challenges facing the Binational Program include 
reducing and managing invasive species and continuing to reduce chemical 
discharges. One of the toxic chemicals targeted in the Zero Discharge 
Demonstration Program is dioxin, a carcinogen released when plastics burn at 
relatively low temperatures, as in backyard burn barrels. Open-air garbage 
burning pollutes the air with dioxin and other chemicals, which mix with 
rain and snow that ends up in Lake Superior. An important next step in 
cleaning the lake is educating people about safe ways to get rid of their 
garbage.

           According to the Forum's U.S. Co-Chair Bruce Lindgren, the 
cooperation between governmental agencies, businesses, nonprofit 
organizations, and private citizens is what has made the Lake Superior 
Binational Program so strong for 15 years. "Lake Superior is a defining 
element of all of our lives in this region," he said. "Everyone, working 
together, will be needed to reduce a big lake's big problems."

US Environmental Protection Agency Lake Superior Manager Elizabeth LaPlante 
says the program has accomplished many of its goals, which has led to an 
overall improvement in the lake's condition.

"However, we have much more to do. We will continue to address reducing 
sources of mercury, PCBs, and dioxins to the lake. But we also need to 
address how to handle emerging contaminants such as flame retardants and 
personal care products, and how we can help implement the highest priorities 
of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration strategy," LaPlante said.

           With continued care and attention, the natural environment of 
the Lake Superior basin should endure as part of a healthy, sustainable life 
for generations to come.

# # #

Contact for more information in the United States: Lissa Radke, US 
Coordinator, Lake Superior Binational Forum; (715) 68201489; 
lradke@northland.edu

Contact for more information in Canada: Barb Nicol, Canadian Coordinator, 
Lake Superior Binational Forum; (888) 301-LAKE; bnicol@lakeheadu.ca


Lissa Radke
US Coordinator
Lake Superior Binational Forum
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College
Ashland WI 54806
715-682-1489
FAX  715-682-1218
www.superiorforum.info
"Water is life, and the quality of water determines the quality of life."
--Lake Superior Binational Forum vision statement 

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