The Great Lakes region is North America’s economic engine and holds 20% of the planet’s fresh surface water. As both the guardian of one of the largest freshwater systems in the world and the generator of over $6 trillion in GDP, the region’s future depends on smart and thoughtful management of the Great Lakes water resources. 

The Great Lakes Water Innovation & Stewardship Exchange (Great Lakes WISE) was formed to bring industry and regional stakeholders together to ensure this sacred and life-sustaining natural resource is used wisely and responsibly to protect it for future generations and sustain the long-term economic success of the region.

About Great Lakes WISE

Administered by the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) and supported by The Water Council (TWC), Great Lakes WISE is a peer-to-peer network of cross-sector stakeholders operating in the Great Lakes economic region, committed to advancing sustainability performance and best practices.

WISE serves as a forum for accelerating corporate water stewardship, developing effective water sustainability solutions within enterprise operations, and collectively actioning projects that address regional water challenges and opportunities across key sectors in the Great Lakes region. 

As the Great Lakes system is globally unique, so are the water-related challenges and opportunities facing every sector in the region. 

Through dialogue and member engagement, critical topics are explored: Water Quality, Water Resource Management, Data Management and Data Sharing, Community Engagement and Partnerships, Technology and Engineering Strategies.