Ann Arbor, Mich. – In a letter, organizations representing Great Lakes states, tribes, state legislators, municipalities, conservation organizations, labor, business, and ports urged members of Congress to include key priorities for the Great Lakes in upcoming legislation to reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act.

“Federal investment in the water infrastructure of the Great Lakes Basin has greatly benefited the ecosystems and economies in our region,” the letter reads. “We appreciate both the House and Senate’s ongoing efforts to reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act each Congress, which helps ensure that investments meet the evolving needs of this dynamic region… Each bill includes key priorities for the Great Lakes, and we are encouraged by Congress’ continued commitment to the economic and environmental health of the Basin.”

Priorities include investments in: the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; wastewater and stormwater infrastructure; Great Lakes Ports and the Maritime Transportation System; treating and eliminating harmful algal blooms; preventing and eliminating Asian Carp and other Aquatic Invasive Species; and shoreline protection and resiliency.

These investments are endorsed by the Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition,  Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus and BlueGreen Alliance.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is an interstate compact agency established under the Great Lakes Basin Compact of 1955. The Commission is authorized by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, industry and nonprofit leaders and agency officials from eight states and two provinces. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission office is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org.