spring 2026 • Issue 29

Great Lakes Policy

Published May 2026

This issue explores the policy, science, and governance challenges shaping the Laurentian Great Lakes today. From the growing water demands of data centers to road salt pollution and changing federal priorities, these stories examine the decisions that will define the region's future.

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Features

Great Lakes region needs data center transparency

Rapid data center expansion threatens Great Lakes water resources, calling for transparency and multilevel regulation to safeguard this finite freshwater system.

Sustaining the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Region

The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence region must treat freshwater as critical infrastructure. Strategic integration of stewardship, climate resilience, and trade ensures long-term economic competitiveness and ecological health.

It’s our turn: Stepping into Great Lakes governance

U.S. federal cuts erode Great Lakes protections, but resilient governance remains. Now, it's time to evolve.

Connecting global science to local action: How IPBES & Indigenous knowledge are together reshaping Great Lakes policy

A new way of working together for effective science policy connects global biodiversity science with local action, centering Indigenous knowledge to drive transformative change across the Great Lakes basin.

Incorporating climate risks in the management of Great Lakes water

New policies that anticipate future conditions rather than react to past patterns require climate-informed planning and nature-based solutions to ensure long-term water security and equity.

On the road to disaster: How road salt policy gaps are threatening the Great Lakes

Road salt is is accumulating in the Great Lakes, threatening aquatic life and groundwater. Regulations and liability reform are needed.

A snapshot of Great Lakes conditions

Report reveals progress in reducing toxins and invasive species introductions but warns of persistent challenges like algal blooms and habitat loss.

Departments

Research Brief

Securing the sustainability of Great Lakes basin groundwater resources

Groundwater, the "sixth Great Lake," faces rising demand from agriculture and technology. Improved data and coordinated policy are vital for long-term sustainability.

Research Brief

Bridging policy and practice in New York State: Barriers to shoreline adaptation along Lake Ontario

Despite policy shifts, shoreline hardening dominates Lake Ontario. Structural limits, fragmented governance, and path dependency block nature-based adaptation and resilient land use.