New resource released ahead of Earth Day 2026 to advance corporate water stewardship across the Great Lakes region
Cleveland, OH / Toronto, ON- April 20, 2026 – The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), through its Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange (WISE), and in partnership with participating organizations, has released a Corporate Water Stewardship Toolkit to help businesses strengthen water management and stewardship practices across the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region.
The Toolkit is a practical, action-oriented resource specifically designed to help companies better understand water-related risks and opportunities, adopt leading best practices, and build a strong business case for water stewardship
The Great Lakes region – spanning eight US states and two Canadian provinces – anchors a USD $9 trillion economy and holds 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. Its long-term economic strength depends on the responsible management of shared water resources, including its lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
As the Great Lakes system is globally unique, so are the water-related challenges and opportunities facing the region’s many industries and sectors. With a purpose of accelerating corporate water stewardship and advancing collective action, the Great Lakes WISE was formalized in 2024.
Following the release of the Great Lakes Water Stewardship Regional Gap Analysis report in 2025, the Water Stewardship Toolkit was developed to support greater knowledge sharing and encourage broader adoption of effective water stewardship practices through accessible educational materials.
The Toolkit includes an introductory slide deck and 19 informational water-related brochures, providing practical guidance, best practices, and resources for organizations seeking to advance sustainable water management.
“In a region defined by water, stewardship is essential to long-term resilience. It is a business imperative that requires collaboration. Developed with our Great Lakes WISE partners, this toolkit helps organizations turn commitment into action. We invite companies across the region to use it and join us in protecting the Great Lakes while strengthening their operations and the communities they serve.”
Lora Shrake, Chief Operating Officer, Council of the Great Lakes Region
“Water is at the core of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence economy, and safeguarding it requires leadership, innovation, and coordinated action across sectors. Through Great Lakes WISE, CGLR is helping to align industry around practical solutions that strengthen both environmental performance and economic competitiveness. This Toolkit is about equipping businesses to lead, embedding water stewardship into decision-making, supply chains, and long-term growth strategies. By doing so, we are positioning the region not only as a global freshwater leader, but as a model for sustainable economic development.”
Vance Badawey, President & CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region
Great Lakes WISE is a peer-to-peer network that fosters collaboration on water quality, resource management, data sharing, community engagement, and innovation.
Partners involved in Great Lakes WISE instrumental in the Corporate Water Stewardship Toolkit include A.O. Smith, Diageo, Ducks Unlimited, Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, Primo Brands, Sloan, Veolia North America, Watts Water Technologies, and The Water Council. Special recognition is extended to Fresh Coast Climate Solutions for leading content development.
The toolkit is available in the Resource Library of the CGLR website and can be used in full or adapted into component pieces to suit different audiences, helping organizations communicate the benefits and opportunities of corporate water stewardship throughout their value chains.
Those interested in exploring the toolkit or learning more about Great Lakes WISE can visit the CGLR website at Great Lakes WISE – Council of the Great Lakes Region. Organizations committed to responsible water use are encouraged to participate.
Released ahead of Earth Day, April 22, 2026, the Toolkit offers a timely resource for organizations not only in the Great Lakes region, but across the globe.
About Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR)
Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), comprised of CGLR Canada, the CGLR Canada Foundation, CGLR USA, and the CGLR Foundation, is a network of charitable and non-charitable organizations in the transnational Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable future by uniquely bringing diverse perspectives and interests together to explore and solve our most pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges as one North American Great Lakes region. For additional information, please visit https://councilgreatlakesregion.org/
About Great Lakes WISE
The Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange (Great Lakes WISE) is an interdisciplinary, multisectoral network advancing water stewardship and sustainability across the Great Lakes region. Administered by the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) and supported by The Water Council, Great Lakes WISE brings together cross-sector stakeholders to share best practices, develop innovative water solutions, and collaborate on regional water challenges.
Through engagement on topics like water quality, resource management, data sharing, community partnerships, and technology strategies, Great Lakes WISE strengthens sustainability performance and fosters collective action to protect this globally significant freshwater system. The initiative welcomes any organization committed to sustainable water use and protecting the vital freshwater resources of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region for future generations.
Learn more at https://councilgreatlakesregion.org/our-programs/great-lakes-wise-program/
Media Contact:
Jasmine Ault, Communications and Marketing Manager, Council of the Great Lakes Region
jasmine@councilgreatlakesregion.org
(647) 200-9424
