What are BUIs?

How do we measure environmental harm and restoration? Enter: beneficial use impairments, or BUIs. BUIs describe specific issues that can affect Great Lakes Areas of Concern. BUIs include things like Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption, Beach Closings, and Degradation of Aesthetics. There are 14 possible BUIs in total, but not all are applicable to every AOC. The Maumee AOC began with 10 BUIs. The chart below gives our current progress. Our remaining BUIs are the ones partners currently work to remove through focused projects, called management action projects.

All BUIs designated for an AOC must be removed before that AOC can be considered for delisting, which means being removed from the AOC program.

Current BUI Status

Photo credits:
All page photos and graphics: Partners for Clean Streams