12 2 STA T .374 3 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 342 —O CT. 3 , 200 8ofal l theirc iti z e ns, incl ud in g generations y ettoco m e .T he most effecti v e means of p rotecting, conserving, restoring, improving and managing the B asin W aters is through the j oint pursuit of unified and cooperative prin - ciples, policies and programs mutually-agreed upon, enacted and adhered to b y all P arties. ‘ ‘ 2 . Purposes
‘‘a. To act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve and effectively manage the Waters and Water D ependent N at- ural R esources of the Basin under appropriate arrangements for intergovernmental cooperation and consultation because current lac k of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to protect the Basin E co- system
‘‘b. To remove causes of present and future controversies; ‘‘c. To provide for cooperative planning and action by the Parties w ith respect to such Water resources; ‘‘d. To facilitate consistent approaches to Water manage- ment across the Basin while retaining S tate management authority over Water management decisions within the Basin; ‘‘e. To facilitate the e x change of data, strengthen the sci- entific information base upon which decisions are made and engage in consultation on the potential effects of proposed Withdrawals and losses on the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources of the Basin; ‘‘f. To prevent significant adverse impacts of Withdrawals and losses on the Basin ’ s ecosystems and watersheds; ‘‘g. To promote interstate and State-Provincial comity; and, ‘‘h. To promote an A daptive M anagement approach to the conservation and management of Basin Water resources, which recognizes, considers and provides adjustments for the uncertainties in, and evolution of, scientific knowledge con- cerning the Basin’s Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources. ‘ ‘ Section1.4 . Science. ‘‘ 1 . The Parties commit to provide leadership for the develop- ment of a collaborative strategy with other regional partners to strengthen the scientific basis for sound Water management deci- sion making under this C ompact. ‘‘2. The strategy shall guide the collection and application of scientific information to support: ‘‘a. An improved understanding of the individual and Cumulative I mpacts of Withdrawals from various locations and Water sources on the Basin Ecosystem and to develop a mecha- nism by which impacts of Withdrawals may be assessed; ‘‘b. The periodic assessment of Cumulative Impacts of With- drawals, Diversions and Consumptive U sesona G reat L ake and St. Lawrence River watershed basis; ‘‘c. Improved scientific understanding of the Waters of the Basin; ‘‘d. Improved understanding of the role of groundwater in Basin Water resources management; and, ‘‘e. The development, transfer and application of science and research related to Water conservation and Water use efficiency.
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