What is an AOC?
An Area of Concern (AOC) is a location where environmental quality is degraded compared to other areas in the Great Lake Basin resulting in the impairment of beneficial uses (see Detroit River BUIs).
Where are the AOCs?
The AOCs are located throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. A total of 43 AOCs were identified (see the map below) as a result of Annex 2 of the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).
Of those original 43 AOCs, 14 were listed in Canada, 26 in the U.S., and 3 were shared between Canada and the U.S. The Detroit River is listed as a binational (shared) AOC; however, work on the RAP is implemented separately on both sides of the border (with collaboration whenever possible).
Canada has successfully delisted 3 AOCs: Severn Sound, Collingwood Harbour and Wheatley Harbour. One more Canadian AOC, Spanish Harbour, is currently listed as an "Area in Recovery". The U.S. has delisted one AOC: Oswego River in New York.
(Photo credit: Environment Canada)
Detroit River AOC
The Detroit River, a 51 km-long connecting channel, is one of three binational AOCs. However, the DRCC focuses on the Canadian portion of the Detroit River AOC. The Detroit River's Canadian watershedis not part of the AOC itself but has been identified as a source of impairment to the AOC and is the focus of certain implementation actions (projects).
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