Great Lakes need protection: Survey
There is an incredible affection and dedication toward the Great Lakes by people living along the shorelines, say two members of the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) water quality board and its engagement working group.
And an overwhelming majority of people, 88 per cent, surveyed in eight states — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — and Ontario feel it’s important to protect them, said Mark Mattson of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and Kelsey Leonard of the Shinnecock Indian Nation.
The two hosted a webinar Tuesday to talk about the survey, sponsored by the IJC, conducted this past January and its findings on public perception of the world’s largest freshwater system. Mattson said it’s the second survey conducted by the IJC — the first was in 2015 — and that 4,250 people in the eight states and Ontario, along with the region’s First Nations, Tribes and Metís were polled.
In 2015 only 85 per cent of people polled felt it was important to protect the lakes.
“In both surveys, respondents believed everyone is and should be responsible for protecting the health of the lakes,” said Leonard.
Mattson said that 80 per cent believe they continue to play an important role in protecting in the lakes, up two per cent from 2015, and that they can take their own actions to help. Some of those actions include being more careful about what’s disposed of down the drain, conserving water, engaging in online forums and internet groups, and contacting elected government officials.
Asked what the most significant problems were facing the Great Lakes, 24 per cent of the people said they didn’t know. The same percentage didn’t know if the lakes were improving or deteriorating.
“The ‘don’t know’ really seems to stand out. People seem to care,” said Mattson. He and Leonard said more effort may be needed to communicate with people along the Great Lakes about the issues that affect it.
Leonard said people need to realize the lakes are not an unlimited resource and that more messaging may be needed to stress that point.
During the webinar, she also said only a small percentage, five per cent, feel there’s too much regulation around the Great Lakes, while 53 per cent feel there’s not enough regulation. The survey also found that 55 per cent would be willing to have greater protection and regulation even if it meant they had to pay more for consumer products.
Leonard said that 89 per cent of those surveyed believed the lakes should be available for leisure or recreation, up three per cent from 2015. Swimming and beach visits ranked high, followed by fishing and boating/boarding activities.
She said Michigan has the highest recreational use at 34 per cent, followed by Lake Ontario at 22 per cent, Lake Erie at 19 per cent, Lake Superior at 14 per cent and Lake Huron at seven per cent. Mattson said people recognize the health of the lakes and the economy of the region are tied together as well. Results of both polls can be found on the IJC’s website at ijc.org/en_/.