Video: How can we clean up polluted watersheds?

There are 43 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes region.  Five of them – the St. Mary’s River, Muskegon Lake, Clint River, Maumee River, and the Buffalo River –are the focus of a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Great Lakes Commission.

Great Lakes Today’s Elizabeth Miller spoke with the commission’s Eric Ellis during the Healing Our Waters conference in Buffalo.

https://youtu.be/DQGlK48zCFk

What’s an area of concern (AOC)?

An area of concern is designated such by the U.S. EPA – it’s usually a watershed or group of watershed with a history of pollution or degradation impacting water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, among other things.

What’s a beneficial use impairment (BUI)?

A beneficial use impairment is a specific issue that needs to be addressed in those areas.  For example: beach closures, restoring fish and wildlife populations.

What AOCs are a part of the NOAA/GLC partnership?

·        St. Mary’s River (Michigan)

·        Muskegon Lake (Michigan)

·        Clint River (Michigan)

·        Maumee River (Ohio)

·        Buffalo River (New York)

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