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Less than 1 percent of the water on earth is available as fresh water, and as the world’s population grows, so does our need for fresh water. Most of the world’s water—salty seas and oceans—isn’t potable, and some fresh water, like glaciers, isn’t available. Even though Chicago sits on the edge of the vast Lake Michigan, its immense waters do not guarantee an endless supply of drinking water.

Below the Great Lakes’ surface lie many threats. Invasive species like pipe-clogging zebra mussels spread quickly through the waters, compromising not only the ecosystem, but the people who depend on it for drinking water, recreation and cargo shipping. And although the precise effects of climate change on our drinking water are yet unknown, we can predict that it will play a damaging role in the mounting global water shortage.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing.

The Nature Conservancy is working hard to protect Lake Michigan and other lakes and rivers around the world, and has designated the Great Lakes a global conservation priority. The Nature Conservancy played a critical role in providing scientific grounding for the recent passage of the Great Lakes Compact, an unprecedented agreement between the eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian providences that seeks to sustainably manage this incredible resource. From combating invasive species to confronting climate change, The Nature Conservancy is taking on this increasingly important issue: keeping fresh water clean, plentiful and available for nature and people.

Action Starts When People Talk.

In the midst of these dire warnings about the dwindling supply of fresh water, there are reasons for hope and things we can do as individuals. First, start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues. Take a look at our Conversation Starters related to habitat conservation for relevant and compelling facts.

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