The Great Lakes Seaway System

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is a binational waterway connecting world markets to North America’s “Opportunity Belt” — the Great Lakes Region. This vital maritime gateway provides a safe, efficient, environmentally friendly way to move cargo between North America and international markets and provides an excellent example of how to effectively achieve goals of economic development and environmental stewardship. Uniquely endowed with one-fifth of the world’s fresh water and home to nearly one-quarter of the continent’s population, the Great Lakes Region is the third largest economy in the world. The Great Lakes Seaway System directly serves this powerhouse region, which accounts for one-quarter of the U.S. gross domestic product and one-half of North America’s manufacturing and services industries.

As part of the Year of Clean Water series focused on elevating the value of water, join us for the annual State of the Great Lakes address with Betty Sutton, Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Administrator Sutton will share how the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is working to operate a safe, efficient, environmentally conscious waterway and helping to promote, as well as protect, these vital resources.