Share Your Great Lakes Perspectives: Public Input on the 2025 Progress Report of the Parties

This public comment period opened on February 3 and closed on April 10, 2026. 

Thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives on how the governments of Canada and the United States are doing to restore, protect and enhance Great Lakes water quality. This input helped inform the International Joint Commission (IJC)’s independent advice to both governments in the Fourth Triennial Assessment of Progress (TAP) report. 

Canada and the United States work together through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to keep the Great Lakes clean and healthy. Every three years, the IJC assesses progress towards the Agreement’s goals for drinkable, fishable, swimmable Great Lakes.

This page serves as static archive of the IJC’s public engagement. Use the links below to navigate to public comment submissions, photo showcase submissions, informational quiz responses and overview of the IJC’s responsibilities under the Agreement to produce its TAP report.

	Your Great Lakes Perspectives (Public Comment Archive)  See the archive of the IJC’s public engagement activities and the perspectives shared during this public engagement.
	Great Lakes Photo Showcase  The IJC received nearly 200 photos depicting recreation, science, education and research, and Great Lakes water in action. Browse all the submissions in our Flickr gallery. Learn more about the showcase and winners.
	IJC’s Triennial Assessment of Progress 101  Learn more about the IJC’s responsibility to assess Canada and the United State’s progress under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
	Test Your Knowledge of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.  This short quiz was developed to test your knowledge of the Agreement. View the quiz questions and responses received.

To stay informed about the IJC’s work under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and other activities, sign up for Shared Waters, the IJC’s quarterly newsletter. 

Your Great Lakes Perspectives (Public Comment Archive)

Public input is a crucial part of the IJC’s assessment. The governments documented their activities between 2022 and 2025 to achieve the goals of the Agreement in the 2025 Progress Report of the Parties. Members of the public could share their perspectives on progress on Great Lakes water quality through written, audio or video comments, completing a questionnaire or participating in the IJC’s Great Lakes Perspectives Broadcast or at a public input webinar. 

Participants were asked to reflect on three questions when providing their input:

• How have changes to water quality impacted the way you live, work, play and engage with the Great Lakes?
• If you had a magic wand, what would you change to achieve progress on Great Lakes water quality?
• Three years from now, how do you hope changes to Great Lakes water quality will have changed the way you live, work, and play in the Great Lakes?

Find more information about how the IJC uses public input in the Commission’s Privacy and Legal Policies.

Summary of Public Comments Received (PDF)
Members of the public could share their perspectives on progress on Great Lakes water quality through written, audio or video comments. No audio comments were received. See a summary of written responses. 

One video comment was received, available below.

Questionnaire on Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Progress Reporting
Members of the public could complete a questionnaire to share their perspectives on reporting from the governments of Canada and the United States. See a summary of responses. 

Great Lakes Perspectives Broadcast
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the International Joint Commission's hosted the Great Lakes Perspectives broadcast. Audiences heard from academics, advocates and community members, and learned more about the importance of sharing their stories to help the IJC assess Canada-US Great Lakes water quality progress. 

Perspectives on Great Lakes Water Quality Progress: IJC Public Input Webinar Series 
This webinar series brought together experts and community members from across the Great Lakes to discuss the Canadian and US governments progress toward clean and healthy water quality. Each webinar welcomed two speakers who shared a recent Great Lakes success stories.  

February 24th, 6 pm ET: Perspectives on Working with Great Lakes Fish 
Hear recent Great Lakes success stories about:

• Lake trout recovery in Lake Superior from Travis White, Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Technological University
• Great Lakes whitefish and aquatic invasive species from Jason Smith, Bay Mills Indian Community 

2026-02-24 Perspectives on Fish Slides - EN

February 25, 11:30 am ET: Perspectives on Working with Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes
Hear recent Great Lakes success stories about:

• Work under the H2Ohio program from Chris Winslow, Ohio Sea Grant 
• Building climate resilience for farmers and ranchers, Alyssa Cousineau, Alternative Land Use Solutions Canada

2026-02-25 Perspectives on Algal Blooms Slides - EN
 

March 11, 11:30 am ET: Perspectives on Engaging with the Great Lakes Coasts 
Hear recent Great Lakes success stories about:

• Manoomin (wild rice) recovery efforts from Darren Vogt, 1854 Treaty Authority 
• Tracking microbial threats in Great Lakes waters, Joan Rose, Michigan State University

2026-03-11 - Perspectives of Coasts Slides - EN

March 24, 6 pm ET: Perspectives on Restoration in Great Lakes Communities 
Hear recent Great Lakes success stories about:

• The Muskegon Area of Concern clean-up, Kathy Evans, Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership
• The good work in Akwesasne on the St. Lawrence River, Abe Francis, Akwesasronon Ecologist, Aronia Collective Founder

2026-03-24 - Perspectives on Community Restoration Slides - EN

March 25, 11:30 am ET: Perspectives on Engaging in Great Lakes Participatory Science
Hear recent Great Lakes success stories about:

• How "coasties" - photos of the coast - can help monitor coastal changes over time, Elizabeth George, CoastReach
• Community-efforts and tools to monitor water quality, Gabi Parent-Doliner, Water Rangers 

2026-03-25 - Perspectives on Participatory Science Slides - EN