Gov. signs Great Lakes Compact
In 2005, the governors of the eight states bordering the Great Lakes and two Canadian premiers signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Compact and Agreement, which established the first region-wide standards to govern the withdrawal and use of Great Lakes water. For the compact to take effect, however, each of the eight state legislatures needed to ratify it.
Wisconsin Environment worked with a coalition of environmental and conservation organizations to build support for the compact in the Statehouse. In May, 2008, after months of campaigning and thousands of citizens voicing their support, the Legislature approved the Great Lakes Compact with a nearly unanimous vote. On May 27, Wisconsin Environment Director Dan Kohler joined Gov. James Doyle on the shore of Lake Michigan as he signed the bill into law.
