ANN ARBOR – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released its 2021 federal priorities for the Great Lakes, urging the Biden administration and Congress to invest in projects and programs that will protect the lakes and accelerate the national economic recovery. The priorities are being shared in advance of Great Lakes Day, an annual event that brings together regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. This year’s Great Lakes Day Congressional Reception will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 3. The reception is hosted jointly by the GLC and the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

“With nearly one-third of U.S. and Canadian economies centered in the Great Lakes basin, revitalizing the Great Lakes must continue to be a top federal priority as we recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sharon M. Jackson, chair of the GLC and Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana. “The Great Lakes Commission is proud to present these priorities and ready to work with our federal, state and local partners to protect the lakes and promote economic growth.”

In FY 2022, the GLC urges Congress and the Biden administration to: invest in water infrastructure to protect drinking water and rebuild failing wastewater systems; support efforts to ensure the regional economy and environment are resilient to climate change; strengthen the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River navigation system to keep waterways open to commerce; fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; support efforts to stop the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species; promote agricultural and other conservation initiatives that help prevent harmful algal blooms; and invest in binational efforts to track progress toward regional goals.

The GLC will meet with members of Congress and the federal government throughout the week to share these priorities. The GLC has organized Great Lakes Day annually for decades as a mechanism for states, members of Congress and the federal government to communicate and work together to address Great Lakes issues. The event is typically held in Washington, D.C. For more information on the GLC and its work, visit www.glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

ANN ARBOR – The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the 2021 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program grant program.

The Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program provides grants to reduce nutrients and sediments entering the Great Lakes. Through the program, nonfederal units of government, tribes, or incorporated nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive assistance for reducing phosphorus contributions to waters within the Great Lakes basin and other efforts to achieve measures of progress under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for sediment and nutrient reduction activities associated with one of three project types: 1) agricultural non-point; 2) stormwater; and 3) Great Lakes shoreline or streambanks.

The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 16, 2021. Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), and the eight Great Lakes states. Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in summer 2021. Selected projects would begin on October 1, 2021 (with potential for an earlier start) and may be up to three years in duration.

The Great Lakes Commission has managed the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program for more than 30 years. The program is a partnership with NRCS, U.S. EPA, and the Great Lakes states. Please visit www.nutrientreduction.org for more information.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

GROSSE POINTE SHORES, Michigan — Ford House, the historic estate of Edsel and Eleanor Ford, is teaming up with the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a project to restore disappearing wildlife habitats along the shoreline of Ford Cove on Lake St. Clair — part of Michigan’s Great Lakes waterway. Dubbed the Ford Cove Shoreline and Coastal Wetland Restoration Project, the goal is to transform Ford House’s lake shore back to its natural state.

The Ford Cove restoration will span roughly a mile of Lake St. Clair’s coastline and more than 17 acres of the surrounding coastal marsh, nearshore habitat and adjacent forested wetlands. The plan includes removing hard, non-natural coastal features like broken concrete and seawalls and reintroducing native plant species and softer shorelines. This will reduce the heavy waves that disrupt vital habitats that local fish, waterfowl, mussels, turtles, snakes and other wildlife need to raise their young, find cover and forage for food — all supporting the lake’s greater ecosystem.

The project kicks off this spring with an initial feasibility study to evaluate the plan put together by Ford House and GLC, along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, and Macomb County’s Planning and Economic Development Department, Parks and Natural Resources Division. The project team selected Michigan-based community advancement firm OHM Advisors to execute the study, lasting about 18 months. OHM Advisors specializes in architecture, engineering, planning, urban design and landscape architecture, surveying and construction engineering.

“Ninety-nine percent of Lake St. Clair’s shoreline is not in its original condition, so Ford House will be recreating the natural world, and that’s an exciting process. After the study is complete, we will get to make Ford House’s shores and wetlands a more functional part of the natural community,” said Kevin Drotos, Ford House Invasive Species and Woodland Specialist.

Ford Cove presents a uniquely ideal location for a shoreline restoration of this scale, as a large swath of continuous shoreline privately owned by Ford House. Natural habitats along the shoreline in Macomb County have nearly disappeared because of industry and significant development of lakefront property. The 31 1/2 miles of shoreline in the county hold 10,000 boat slips and 50 marinas, leaving only 2,140 linear feet of natural shores.

Ford House places a high priority on environmental sustainability, an extension of the museum’s mission to maintain and restore the Fords’ historic home and grounds as a National Historic Landmark. Two Ford House staff — Ford House Director of Landscapes Karl Koto and Drotos — have teamed up with the GLC to lead the project.

“Roughly 200 species of birds use Ford Cove and the land around it. When we restore the shoreline, the birds can have access to the native plants we add, and the insects that live on them. The fish and other aquatic species will be able to thrive,” Drotos said. “All these things benefit the ecosystem. Ford House is taking an interest in the health of the environment, hand-in-hand with caring for the estate’s history and landscapes.”

The current step of the project, the feasibility study, will include detailed baseline chemical, geotechnical, and ecological evaluations, preliminary hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and produce conceptual plans with estimated costs and restoration recommendations. These measures will determine if the plan will be able to effectively reach its restoration goals.

“The Ford Cove project has the potential to benefit numerous important species native to the Great Lakes, as well as some federally protected species like freshwater mussels,” said Erika Jensen, interim executive director of the GLC. “We’re pleased to be working with Ford House and continuing our partnership with NOAA to restore this and other priority sites across the Great Lakes basin.”

The cost of the feasibility study is $230,634, including a $3,000 in-kind match from Ford House.

Funding for this project comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through a regional partnership between NOAA and the GLC. A project management team provides input and guidance on the project and includes members from the GLC, Ford House, NOAA, Macomb County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

GROSSE POINTE SHORES, Michigan — Ford House, the historic estate of Edsel and Eleanor Ford, is teaming up with the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a project to restore disappearing wildlife habitats along the shoreline of Ford Cove on Lake St. Clair — part of Michigan’s Great Lakes waterway. Dubbed the Ford Cove Shoreline and Coastal Wetland Restoration Project, the goal is to transform Ford House’s lake shore back to its natural state.

The Ford Cove restoration will span roughly a mile of Lake St. Clair’s coastline and more than 17 acres of the surrounding coastal marsh, nearshore habitat and adjacent forested wetlands. The plan includes removing hard, non-natural coastal features like broken concrete and seawalls and reintroducing native plant species and softer shorelines. This will reduce the heavy waves that disrupt vital habitats that local fish, waterfowl, mussels, turtles, snakes and other wildlife need to raise their young, find cover and forage for food — all supporting the lake’s greater ecosystem.

The project kicks off this spring with an initial feasibility study to evaluate the plan put together by Ford House and GLC, along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, and Macomb County’s Planning and Economic Development Department, Parks and Natural Resources Division. The project team selected Michigan-based community advancement firm OHM Advisors to execute the study, lasting about 18 months. OHM Advisors specializes in architecture, engineering, planning, urban design and landscape architecture, surveying and construction engineering.

“Ninety-nine percent of Lake St. Clair’s shoreline is not in its original condition, so Ford House will be recreating the natural world, and that’s an exciting process. After the study is complete, we will get to make Ford House’s shores and wetlands a more functional part of the natural community,” said Kevin Drotos, Ford House Invasive Species and Woodland Specialist.

Ford Cove presents a uniquely ideal location for a shoreline restoration of this scale, as a large swath of continuous shoreline privately owned by Ford House. Natural habitats along the shoreline in Macomb County have nearly disappeared because of industry and significant development of lakefront property. The 31 1/2 miles of shoreline in the county hold 10,000 boat slips and 50 marinas, leaving only 2,140 linear feet of natural shores.

Ford House places a high priority on environmental sustainability, an extension of the museum’s mission to maintain and restore the Fords’ historic home and grounds as a National Historic Landmark. Two Ford House staff — Ford House Director of Landscapes Karl Koto and Drotos — have teamed up with the GLC to lead the project.

“Roughly 200 species of birds use Ford Cove and the land around it. When we restore the shoreline, the birds can have access to the native plants we add, and the insects that live on them. The fish and other aquatic species will be able to thrive,” Drotos said. “All these things benefit the ecosystem. Ford House is taking an interest in the health of the environment, hand-in-hand with caring for the estate’s history and landscapes.”

The current step of the project, the feasibility study, will include detailed baseline chemical, geotechnical, and ecological evaluations, preliminary hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and produce conceptual plans with estimated costs and restoration recommendations. These measures will determine if the plan will be able to effectively reach its restoration goals.

“The Ford Cove project has the potential to benefit numerous important species native to the Great Lakes, as well as some federally protected species like freshwater mussels,” said Erika Jensen, interim executive director of the GLC. “We’re pleased to be working with Ford House and continuing our partnership with NOAA to restore this and other priority sites across the Great Lakes basin.”

The cost of the feasibility study is $230,634, including a $3,000 in-kind match from Ford House.

Funding for this project comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through a regional partnership between NOAA and the GLC. A project management team provides input and guidance on the project and includes members from the GLC, Ford House, NOAA, Macomb County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Ann Arbor, MI – The Great Lakes Commission released a report detailing the uses of Great Lakes water in 2019. The Annual Report of the Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database includes information on withdrawals, diversions, and consumptive uses by each of the eight states and two provinces in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin. According to the report, 38.9 billion gallons of water per day were withdrawn from the basin in 2019, an overall decrease in water use from 2018.

For more than 30 years, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River states and provinces have submitted water use data to the Great Lakes Commission to support implementation of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Each year, the GLC compiles and summarizes these datasets into an annual report. The 2019 report was published during the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Compact Council meeting on December 8.

James Clift, Great Lakes Commissioner and designated chair of the Regional Body for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, says the database and report highlight the dual regional commitments to conserving water resources and promoting sustainable economic development.

“More than 30 million people in the Great Lakes basin rely on the lakes for drinking water, jobs, industry and more.” Clift said. “The water use data published annually by the Great Lakes Commission helps ensure regional decision-makers are managing our water resources responsibly for all the basin’s residents.”

To read the report, visit waterusedata.glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Ann Arbor, MI – The Invasive Mussel Collaborative (IMC) announced a remarkable decrease in quagga mussel density in the weeks following experimental treatments at a test site in Lake Michigan near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The IMC’s work to reduce the invasive species also led to a significant reduction in nuisance Cladophora algae at the site.   

Using a molluscicide consisting of dead cells from Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria on a reef within Good Harbor Bay, project partners saw a 95% reduction in mussel density in the weeks following application. The project tested the application to an area important for fish spawning and identified changes in the underwater habitat. Lake Michigan is heavily infested with quagga mussels, which are fueling the growth of nuisance algae in the lake. They also serve as a food source for invasive round goby, which has displaced some native fish species and plays a role in avian botulism outbreaks.   

The IMC also announced the release of a video highlighting its work at Good Harbor Bay. In the months ahead, the IMC will monitor the long-term effects of the project and work to identify future priorities and opportunities to conduct similar work.  

“The presence of zebra and quagga mussels has significantly impacted Good Harbor Bay and the entire Great Lakes basin,” said Dave Clapp of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “This project and related efforts show us that targeted mussel removal has the potential to help us restore these important coastal reefs.”  

“The IMC is encouraged by the outcomes of this experimental project and sees an opportunity to conduct related studies in other locations around the Great Lakes,” said Erika Jensen, Interim Executive Director for the Great Lakes Commission, which provides coordination and neutral backbone support for the collaborative. “The IMC is proud to support work to develop and test effective control methods, and we look forward to the results of this project informing future efforts.”  

The project leveraged ongoing work by the National Park Service, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a team of citizen divers to manually remove quagga mussels and study impacts to nuisance algae, local fish, the underwater community and toxin-producing microbes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.   

“We’re concerned with understanding the cascading consequences of invasive mussels on these coastal ecosystems and food webs,” said Julie Christian, Head Biologist with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “The National Park Service is pleased to support nearshore monitoring and research efforts at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.”  

“Good Harbor Bay serves as a natural laboratory to monitor ongoing changes in the Lake Michigan ecosystem and test hypotheses about reef and native species restoration,” said Brenda Lafrancois, National Park Service Aquatic Ecologist for Department of Interior Regions 3, 4 and 5.  

Harvey Bootsma, a lead researcher with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who conducted monitoring for the project and is studying the reef ecosystem, added, “Ongoing research in Good Harbor Bay over the last 15 years is teaching us a great deal about the complexities of a Lake Michigan ecosystem that is significantly impacted by non-native species. The information gathered from this work improves our understanding and efforts to manage and restore Great Lakes resources.”  

“This project and other innovative approaches to invasive species control would not have been possible without funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has significantly accelerated efforts to protect the Great Lakes,” said Scott Morlock, USGS Regional Director. “USGS is pleased to be a founding member of the IMC and work with our federal, state and local partners on this project and future work to protect our water resources.”  

The IMC was established in 2015 to share information, identify regional research and management priorities and advance scientifically sound technologies for invasive mussel control. Founding members include the Great Lakes Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The IMC is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey. Learn more about the IMC and its work online.   

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.

Ann Arbor, MI – The Great Lakes Commission held its 2020 Annual Meeting this week in a virtual format for the first time ever. During the three-day meeting, the Commission passed a resolution updating its position on invasive Asian carp, heard from partners on regional collaboration to protect the Great Lakes and national experts on work to build climate resilience, and re-elected its chair and vice chair.

“We are grateful that more than 175 of our Commissioners, Observers and partners could join us online this week to discuss critical regional priorities, including climate resilience,” said Erika Jensen, interim executive director of the Commission. “As is true for all issues facing the Great Lakes, collaboration will be essential to protecting communities in the Great Lakes basin from increasingly severe weather and storm events. A standing committee of Commissioners is continuing work on a draft action plan that will leverage existing programs and expertise in this space and help coordinate and plan on a basinwide scale, and we look forward to sharing that work at our Semiannual Meeting in May 2021.”

The Commission passed one resolution at the meeting, which updated its policy on invasive Asian carp. The resolution, introduced jointly by members of its Illinois and Michigan delegations, calls on the U.S. federal government to fund and advance prevention and control measures for Asian carp, including the design, engineering, and construction of a control point at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. The Commission also voted to establish an ad-hoc committee to update its policy on mercury contamination.

Finally, the Commission re-elected Sharon M. Jackson of Indiana as chair and Todd Ambs of Wisconsin as vice chair. Chair Jackson serves as Deputy General Counsel to Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb. Vice Chair Ambs serves as Assistant Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The Commission will next convene the week of May 10, 2021 for its semiannual meeting and will host the annual Great Lakes Day in early March 2021. The formats of these events will be announced in the future. 

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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative (GLPC) today released its “Common Agenda” – a shared understanding and an agreed-upon path for addressing invasive Phragmites in the Great Lakes basin. The agenda sets goals, defines gaps and problem areas in management of Phragmites, and outlines the strategies collaborative members will use to fight invasive Phragmites.

“Addressing a widespread regional issue like invasive Phragmites requires coordination across sectors and political boundaries,” said Erika Jensen, interim executive director of the Great Lakes Commission, which coordinates the GLPC with the U.S. Geological Survey. “The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative is excited to release their Common Agenda to guide regional efforts in the Great Lakes basin. Working together we can be more coordinated, efficient and strategic in tackling the issue of invasive Phragmites.”

Phragmites australis (also known as common reed) is a tall, aggressive invasive grass that can displace native plants, block scenic views, decrease property values, cut off road drainage, and become a fire hazard. Though nonnative Phragmites has been present in North America for some time, it has only become a true invader in the Great Lakes region over the last few decades. 

The GLPC also announced a strategic plan for the Phragmites Adaptative Management Framework (PAMF), which gathers data to determine which management approaches are the most likely to reduce a Phragmites infestation. PAMF is administered through a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Georgia. In its first three years, PAMF engaged more than 75 managers and enrolled nearly 700 acres from across the Great Lakes basin. The new PAMF strategic plan will guide program implementation over the next five years.

“Phragmites continues to spread rapidly in the Great Lakes region and millions of dollars are spent on treatments each year, so it’s critical that we identify the most effective ways to manage it,” said Dr. Kurt Kowalski of the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center. “PAMF is helping us resolve the uncertainty around what approach is most effective given site conditions.”

Anyone treating Phragmites, from government agencies to private landowners, can enroll in PAMF and benefit by receiving annual management guidance. Participation in PAMF also contributes to advancing the mission of the GLPC under the Common Agenda.

The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative was established in 2012 and brings together agencies, organizations, and citizens who are engaged with Phragmites in some way, including management, research, and communication. The GLPC is guided by an Advisory Committee that represents a binational cross-section of Great Lakes Phragmites experts. The GLPC utilizes a “collective impact” framework intended to address complex problems through collaboration with multiple organizations working at multiple jurisdictional levels. Under this approach, a common agenda is one of five conditions necessary to effect change.

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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative (GLPC) today released its “Common Agenda” – a shared understanding and an agreed-upon path for addressing invasive Phragmites in the Great Lakes basin. The agenda sets goals, defines gaps and problem areas in management of Phragmites, and outlines the strategies collaborative members will use to fight invasive Phragmites.

“Addressing a widespread regional issue like invasive Phragmites requires coordination across sectors and political boundaries,” said Erika Jensen, interim executive director of the Great Lakes Commission, which coordinates the GLPC with the U.S. Geological Survey. “The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative is excited to release their Common Agenda to guide regional efforts in the Great Lakes basin. Working together we can be more coordinated, efficient and strategic in tackling the issue of invasive Phragmites.”

Phragmites australis (also known as common reed) is a tall, aggressive invasive grass that can displace native plants, block scenic views, decrease property values, cut off road drainage, and become a fire hazard. Though nonnative Phragmites has been present in North America for some time, it has only become a true invader in the Great Lakes region over the last few decades. 

The GLPC also announced a strategic plan for the Phragmites Adaptative Management Framework (PAMF), which gathers data to determine which management approaches are the most likely to reduce a Phragmites infestation. PAMF is administered through a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Georgia. In its first three years, PAMF engaged more than 75 managers and enrolled nearly 700 acres from across the Great Lakes basin. The new PAMF strategic plan will guide program implementation over the next five years.

“Phragmites continues to spread rapidly in the Great Lakes region and millions of dollars are spent on treatments each year, so it’s critical that we identify the most effective ways to manage it,” said Dr. Kurt Kowalski of the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center. “PAMF is helping us resolve the uncertainty around what approach is most effective given site conditions.”

Anyone treating Phragmites, from government agencies to private landowners, can enroll in PAMF and benefit by receiving annual management guidance. Participation in PAMF also contributes to advancing the mission of the GLPC under the Common Agenda.

The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative was established in 2012 and brings together agencies, organizations, and citizens who are engaged with Phragmites in some way, including management, research, and communication. The GLPC is guided by an Advisory Committee that represents a binational cross-section of Great Lakes Phragmites experts. The GLPC utilizes a “collective impact” framework intended to address complex problems through collaboration with multiple organizations working at multiple jurisdictional levels. Under this approach, a common agenda is one of five conditions necessary to effect change.

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.

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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced that it will award $1.55 million in grants to reduce the runoff of sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants into the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program.

Each year, the program provides competitive grants to local, state and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to install erosion and nutrient control practices in the Great Lakes basin. The program supports projects not typically funded by other federal cost-share programs, allowing it to fund innovative and unique approaches. The 2020 projects generally focus on three approaches: long-term sediment and nutrient management through engagement with the agricultural community, streambank restoration, and green infrastructure.

“Bringing together national, state, and local partners is key to protecting the Great Lakes and the economies they support,” said Sharon M. Jackson, chair of the Great Lakes Commission and deputy general counsel to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “The Great Lakes Commission is proud to provide these grants to help organizations improve water quality in their communities.”

Funding for the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Over the past ten years the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program has awarded 126 grants totaling more than $21 million through the GLRI.

The following grants have been awarded:

• Colonial Heritage Water Quality Stormwater Improvements, Fort Wayne City Utilities – $200,000 (Indiana)
• Michigan State University Red Cedar River Restoration Phase II, Michigan State University – $150,538 (Michigan)
• Little Net River Phosphorous Reduction Project, Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District – $200,000 (Minnesota)
• Jaycox Creek Watershed Agricultural BMPs, Center for Environmental Initiatives – $198,293 (New York)
• Euclid Beach Park Green Infrastructure (Euclid Creek Watershed), Cleveland Metroparks – $200,000 (Ohio)
• Improving Phosphorus Placement by Composting Solid Manure, The Ohio State University – $74,600 (Ohio)
• Phase 2: Targeted Phosphorus and Sediment Reduction to North Fish Creek and Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior, Northland College – $199,726 (Wisconsin)
• Building Water Storage Capacity of the Lower Fox, Outagamie County Land Conservation – $199,268 (Wisconsin)
• Restoring Agricultural Land to Native Vegetation to Reduce Nutrient Loads in Little Menomonee and Milwaukee River Watersheds, Mequon Nature Preserve – $127,556 (Wisconsin)

More information about the projects is available at www.nutrientreduction.org.

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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission announced today that it will be appointing Erika Jensen to serve as its interim executive director. Erika first joined the Commission in 2006 and currently oversees the agency’s aquatic invasive species prevention and control program. She will be the first female executive director of the Commission since it was established in 1955.

Darren Nichols announced that he will be stepping down from his current role as executive director on September 8. He will provide transition guidance to executive leadership as needed through January 2021 and will work to ensure a seamless transition for the Commission. He plans extensive travel and distance learning with his wife and three teenage sons through the next school year.

“I am so pleased to announce that Erika Jensen has been named to serve as interim executive director,” said Chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana. “Erika is highly regarded throughout the Great Lakes community and has spent more than 14 years with the GLC, spearheading many regional initiatives and serving in several leadership roles during this time. Erika has the ideal combination of experience with Great Lakes issues and stakeholders and fresh new ideas for the agency.”

 “The Commission sincerely appreciates Darren’s significant contributions to the Commission and the Great Lakes basin,” said GLC Vice Chair Todd L. Ambs, Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “We wish him and his family the very best.”

Erika joined the Commission as a Sea Grant Fellow and has a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. She currently serves as coordinator for the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Invasive Mussel Collaborative and works with a variety of regional partners on projects focused on invasive species and other topics.  

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.