Buffalo Environmental Law Journal Volume 14 Number 2 Article 1 4-1-2007 Managing Resources with Interstate Compacts: A Perspective from the Great Lakes Jessica A. Bielecki Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/belj Part of the Environmental Law Commons Recommended Citation Jessica A. Bielecki, Managing Resources with Interstate Compacts: A Perspective from the Great Lakes, 14 Buff. Envtl. L.J. 173 (2007). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/belj/vol14/iss2/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Buffalo Environmental Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. MANAGING RESOURCES WITH INTERSTATE COMPACTS: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE GREAT LAKES JESSICA A. BIELECKI * I. INTRODUCTION The Great Lakes Basin is the largest fresh water system outside the polar ice caps,' covering 300,000 square miles,2 and stretching 750 miles from east to west.3 It holds ninety percent of North America's fresh water, which equates to six quadrillion 4 gallons. This is enough water to submerge5 the continental forty- eight states nine and a half feet deep. Despite its size, without protections, the Great Lakes Basin 6 7 could be in danger. Fresh water shortages both inside and outside B.S. 2004, University of Mary Washington, J.D. 2007, The University at Buffalo School of Law. The author would like to thank Professor Barry Boyer for his assistance in researching and drafting this article.