Celebrating 15 Years of the Great Lakes Compact
The Great Lakes Compact became law in 2008. To mark the 15th anniversary of this landmark law, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Compact Council is hosting a Great Lakes Compact symposium on December 8, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in partnership with the University of Michigan. The symposium will be held at the Rackham Ampitheater at the University’s Rackham Graduate School, beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST. This meeting will be open to the public.
Additionally, on December 7, the Regional Body and Compact Council will be hosting their semi-annual meetings beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST at the University of Michigan. Details will be made available on the Regional Body and Compact Council websites at www.glslregionalbody.org and www.compactcouncil.org.
How the Compact became law:
On October 8, 2008, President George W. Bush signed the law that consented to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact—the final legislative act that allowed the Compact to become both federal and State law. Prior to this, the U.S. Senate unanimously consented to the Compact and the U.S. House passed it with more than 90% of the House voting “yea.” More than 95% of the legislators in the eight Great Lakes States voted for the Compact before it became law. The Compact formally came into force on December 8, 2008.
