Fresh Coast and Great Lakes WISE: Regional Water Stewardship Gap Analysis

Case Study

Fresh Coast and Great Lakes WISE

Regional Water Stewardship Gap Analysis

The Great Lakes region represents a complex intersection of industries, communities, and natural resources which contributes a combined $8.0 trillion in economic activity to the U.S. and Canadian economies. To ensure sustainable growth and protect these vital resources, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) administers the Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange (WISE), a collaborative initiative that unites water-focused industries, academic institutions, and NGOs to advance water sustainability.

Although the Great Lakes are often perceived as an inexhaustible resource, the region faces mounting challenges, including climate change impacts and pressures from economic and population growth. Recognizing these risks, Great Lakes WISE identified the need for a baseline understanding of water resources to guide corporate stewardship efforts.

Overview

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Current water landscape: Detailed overview of water use and availability in the basin, including sector-specific breakdowns for industrial, public supply, and agricultural use.
Water quality in the Great Lakes: Assessment of current conditions, major pollutants, and contributing sectors, highlighting strong policy frameworks opportunity to close the gap on resource governance across the region.
Regional water vulnerabilities: Exploration of climate change impacts, population growth, and emerging risks such as data center development, which could strain water access.
Key policies and agreements: Review of the complex regulatory environment governing the Great Lakes, underscoring the need for greater coordination.
Corporate water stewardship: Analysis of corporate roles in water management, including circular water economy practices, efficiency measures, and reuse strategies.
Data tools and gaps: Identification of available monitoring tools and significant data gaps that hinder effective decision-making.

Focus of the Regional Water Stewardship Gap Analysis

In 2024, CGLR engaged Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, a founding member of WISE, to lead the development of the first comprehensive regional gap analysis for the Great Lakes Region that would support development of a strategy, highlight opportunities for WISE members to have larger impact, and provide a roadmap for future water stewardship in the region.

Fresh Coast approached the regional gap analysis through extensive data acquisition and policy analysis, synthesizing information from multiple state, federal, and Canadian sources to build a coherent picture of the region’s water landscape.

The gap analysis provides a critical baseline for understanding the opportunities for corporate water stewardship in the Great Lakes region. It reveals a fragmented data landscape and limited awareness among industries regarding their role in water management. Notably, energy production emerged as the largest water withdrawer, a trend likely to intensify with the growth of AI infrastructure and other emerging industries. Fresh Coast’s findings also highlight disparities in how industries perceive water stewardship, signaling the need for education, awareness, and a shared understanding of water’s strategic importance.

Next Steps in Great Lakes Corporate Water Stewardship

The gap analysis is not a solution in itself, but a foundational tool for Great Lakes WISE and its partners. The next phase of the work involves translating the findings into accessible formats to engage a broader audience and expand the partnership network. With a stronger coalition, Great Lakes WISE can move from analysis to actionable solutions, such as regional water reuse strategies and corporate stewardship programs. Ultimately, Fresh Coast envisions the gap analysis and its insights as a roadmap for navigating complex data and policy landscapes, fostering collaboration, and advancing water sustainability across the Great Lakes Region.