“Today the Ohio General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the Great Lakes Compact” said Mike Eckhardt, Ohio League of Conservation Policy Director. “This has been a long road but well worth the effort, Ohio has finally joined with the other Great Lakes States and is committed to protecting Lake Erie.”

The Great Lakes Water Resources Compact (Ohio House Bill 416) promises a comprehensive law for Ohio and the other Great Lakes states to control the use of Great Lakes basin water.  Without the Compact, Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes will remain vulnerable to schemes to siphon water away to the arid Southwest or other parts of the globe. 

“I’m happy that an overwhelming majority of the Ohio General Assembly agrees that the Compact provides balance and responsibility by ensuring that we'll all be able to use and enjoy Lake Erie, and all the Great Lakes, for generations to come,” continued Eckhardt. “This compact is a testament to the resolve of a broad-based bi-partisan effort dedicated to protecting Ohio largest natural resource.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of all the Great Lakes and has the most to lose from proposed water diversions. It is also responsible for generating close to $10 billion dollars from travel, tourism and fishing.