The Great Lakes are among the world’s most important natural resources. Minnesota sits on Lake Superior, the largest and most pristine Great Lake, and the world’s largest freshwater lake in surface area. MCEA’s Great Lakes work most often focuses on Superior, though we have also contributed to regional efforts such as the Great Lakes Compact.

In 2007, Minnesota became the first state to sign the Great Lakes Compact, which protects the water in the lakes from diversion to other areas. The compact’s ratification by eight Great Lakes states came after over four years of negotiation among various interest groups. The agreement prevents new diversions of water to states and countries outside of the Great Lakes watershed and requires states on the lakes to manage their own water use in a sustainable way. The U.S. Congress and President Bush approved the compact in the fall of 2008.