Great Lakes Habitat Protection | Union of Concerned Scientists

WATER MANAGEMENT
Protecting ground and surface water supplies, as well as the ecological quality of aquatic habitats and the species that live in them, offers benefits for human health and well-being in the water-rich Great Lakes region. Water management and conservation efforts also increase the reliability of supplies for economic sectors and industries dependent on steady availability of water.


Solution strategies:	PROTECT WATER QUALITY	PLAN FOR INCREASED DEMAND	HABITAT PROTECTION
Protecting habitat improves water quality by filtering pollutants and nutrients. Intact wetlands, for example, are able to assimilate significant quantities of excess nutrients and other human and agricultural wastes. This helps prevent high levels of run-off and other pollutants from reaching the lakes, benefiting human health as well as recreation.