Number: 1979-15
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System makes up the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world; and
WHEREAS, its outstanding natural assets of fish and wildlife, vegetation, shorelines, sand dunes, islands and waters make it one of the world’s most important resources; and
WHEREAS, the 295,000-square mile basin borders eight states and two Canadian provinces and is home of over 60 million people; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System provides vital resources for recreation, fish and wildlife production, transportation, manufacturing, tourism, and other industries; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes still face major problems from toxic chemical contamination, eutrophication from nutrient enrichment, unregulated commercial fishing by Indians, “non-point” runoff pollution, atmospheric pollution, loss of wetlands, additional water diversions and other level manipulations, land increased federal intervention in management of the fishery and other resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 22-25, 1979, in Toronto, Ontario, hereby recognizes the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System as an outstanding international resource important to all citizens of the United States and Canada, and deserving of the two countries best efforts in environmental protection and land use planning in the Great Lakes Basin; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation reaffirms its support for the goals of the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada to “restore and enhance water quality in the Great Lakes System;” and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation recognizes that management of the fishery and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes should remain the primary responsibility for the states and provinces concerned, except for federal involvement in international treaties and interstate negotiations, with the states and/or provinces retaining authority to adopt regulations more stringent than those required by federal agencies.