Resolution: Beach Closures in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region
Adopted on October 16, 2000

Whereas, public beaches throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence System are subject to periodic closure due to pathogens and other contaminants that pose risks to human health; and

Whereas, the causes of such contamination and associated closures are difficult to identify and can include urban and agricultural runoff; combined sewer overflow; septic system failure; algae die-off; industrial discharges and spill events, among others; and

Whereas, such closures have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, compromising human health, quality of life and the economic viability of shoreline communities dependent on water-based recreational activity; and

Whereas, the Lakewide Management Plans under the auspices of the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement have identified beach closures as problems that must be addressed; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission is mandated under the Great Lakes Basin Compact to recommend “measures for combating pollution” and to plan for the welfare of areas having “problems of special concern;” and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Commission views this as a problem requiring intergovernmental cooperation from the local to binational levels.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission regards the contamination of recreational waters at Great Lakes-St. Lawrence public beaches as an unacceptable risk to public health and therefore a regional priority; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission urges government jurisdictions in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, at all levels, to:

• promote consistency in the development and application of criteria for beach closure decisions;
• ensure the periodic monitoring of public beaches;
• provide the public with timely notification of closure decisions;
• undertake or otherwise advocate research into the causes of contamination events and associated preventive measures; and
• direct new or existing funds, where possible, to eliminate or otherwise reduce risks to public health as evidenced by beach closure incidents.

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to aggressively implement its 1999 “Beach Action Plan” to monitor recreational water quality; identify and communicate public health risks; undertake research to identify and address contamination sources; and promote consistent management at the state and tribal levels; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission urges the U.S. Congress to enhance its support for the “Beach Action Plan” and further address this problem through adequate funding for, and targeting of, the Section 319 (Clean Water Act) program, the Wastewater State Revolving Loan Fund, the Great Lakes Areas of Concern program, the biennial State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference and associated initiatives, among others.

Adopted by the unanimous action of the eight member states of the Great Lakes Commission at the 2000 Annual Meeting, Hamilton, Ontario, October 16, 2000.