GREAT LAKES STRATEGY 2002: LESSONS LEARNED

As the largest freshwater system on the face of the earth, the Great Lakes ecosystem holds the key to the quality of life and economic prosperity for tens of millions of people. While significant progress has been made to restore the environmental health of the Great Lakes, much work remains to be done. Chemical or biological contaminants still limit our ability to eat the fish we catch, prevent us from swimming at our public beaches, and can make us vulnerable to health problems. Natural areas have been degraded, and the diversity of our fish and wildlife populations is increasingly threatened. The U.S. Policy Committee, which is comprised of Federal, State, and Tribal agencies, developed Great Lakes Strategy 2002 to advance Great Lakes protection and restoration efforts in the new millennium.