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In: Drinking Water, Latest News, Mott Foundation Partnership, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Trump Administration, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
What Has the Trump Administration Meant for Water?

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/11/trump-administration-water-policy/

Circle of Blue

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In: Policy, Washington Update

Home to more than 30 million Americans, the Great Lakes region boasts a $7 billion commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries industry, which is reliant on a healthy ecosystem to thrive. Unfortunately, non-native species have taken hold in many of the lakes and surrounding wetlands and habitat. These aquatic and terrestrial invasive species are altering the basic functions of the Great Lakes and its connected waterways, disrupting fisheries and wildlife, hurting outdoor recreation, harming the economy, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting our way of life.

One of the biggest threats to Great Lakes fisheries and the broader Great Lakes economy is the invasive Asian Carp species, which already worked its way through the Mississippi River Watershed. Asian Carp has wrought profound economic and ecological damage in the ecosystems in which it has taken root. In places like the Illinois River, these invasive fish take over and make up 90 percent of the aquatic life present. In addition to the immense environmental damage they have caused, they present a threat to boaters—as the large fish, when startled by boats, jump out of the water and harm humans.

It is imperative to stop the invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Chief among prevention methods are the construction of new defenses to repel the fish at Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois, which would provide a crucial block for Asian Carp to enter the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi River watershed, where it has already taken hold.

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is a proposed project that would be built on the Chicago River, below where it meets Lake Michigan. This project would provide a partial separation between the two watersheds, providing extra defense against Asian carp. Congress is poised to authorize construction of the project, which will follow the completion of preliminary engineering designs. A final agreement allowing the blueprints to be drawn up between the Army Corps and Illinois, where the project will be built is still pending.

Asian carp are not the only species threatening the Great Lakes – nor is the connection between the Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River the only means by which invasive species can enter the great lakes.  Another way invasive species can enter the Great Lakes comes from the ballast water, which ships take on to ensure consistent displacement as cargo is loaded and unloaded. This water is transported from port to port, and with it comes all manner of aquatic life, native and invasive. These vessels have the responsibility to not pollute waters with their discharge. Under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), the US EPA has the authority to protect U.S. waters from harmful biological pollution and needs to set strong standards that protect our Great Lakes, environment, economy, and communities from the harmful effects of non-native species. EPA proposed new discharge standards on Monday, October 26, which they claim will reduce ballast water’s environmental impact. It is accepting public comment on this proposal until November 25.

The 2020 election comes at a crucial moment for the Great Lakes and the communities that call this region home. We call on both major party presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, to pledge to build new prevention methods such as the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, as well as strengthen protections that clamp down on biological pollution from international vessels that discharge ballast water in the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters. These steps must be taken to ensure healthy lakes for the future to come.

The post Controlling Invasive Species in the Great Lakes: A 2020 Priority appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/controlling-invasive-species-in-the-great-lakes-a-2020-priority/

Pavan Vangipuram

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In: Policy

Over the past decade, toxic algal blooms – giant plumes of algae that can contaminate drinking water, harm the ecosystem, and hurt the economy – have become a perennial issue in the Great Lakes and many inland waters.

Toxic algal blooms are having a profound impact on Great Lakes communities. A 2014 bloom in Lake Erie led to a “do not drink” advisory for more than 400,000 Toledo residents, and residents in communities across the region live under the threat of another disaster, while dealing with lost recreation, hurt businesses and ongoing economic and health issues that these blooms cause.

And the health effects from being exposed to these toxic blooms can be costly and debilitating. A 2019 study showed that exposure to these blooms can cause health impacts for residents that can reduce their life expectancy by years and cost tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills.

Caused by a variety of factors including farm runoff of animal waste and fertilizer as well as a changing climate, toxic algal blooms have had a devastating impact on the health and economy of Great Lakes communities. A 2015 report estimates that these blooms can cost communities tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues from lost tourism, damaged property values, and required maintenance to water treatment facilities – and they’re only getting more frequent. As the climate changes, we can expect more intense and frequent algal blooms as storms grow wetter and waters grow warmer.

Stopping the spread of toxic blooms is a crucial element not only in providing water security, but economic well-being, for the tens of millions of Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, recreation, fishing, tourism and a variety of other activities that power the Great Lakes economy. These blooms are everywhere – from Green Bay, Wis., to Saginaw Bay, Mich., as well as inland waters like Grand Lake St. Mary’s in Ohio.

This is why the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is calling on presidential candidates to make addressing these toxic blooms a priority. This means investing in farm conservation practices and supporting policy solutions that help the region hit its goals to limit farm runoff pollution and curb toxic algae.

The next president needs to act with urgency because the region is not meeting its goals to reduce runoff pollution, and climate change will only exacerbate the threat of toxic algae as more intense storms wash more fertilizer and animal waste off of farm fields and into local waters.  Great Lakes communities can’t wait any longer. The time for action is now.

The post Toxic Algal Blooms: A 2020 Great Lakes Priority appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/toxic-algal-blooms-a-2020-great-lakes-priority/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, Success Stories

Communities across the Great Lakes are struggling with aging drinking and waste water infrastructure that is vital to providing safe drinking water, and nonstop wastewater treatment services that protect public health.

Thanks to federally funded programs such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), communities that struggle with aging water infrastructure can get low-interest or no-interest loans to upgrade these systems and protect communities and habitats over the long term.

These federal programs use an innovative financing structure that ensures a long-term supply of low-interest or no-interest loans for towns, cities and municipalities that need infrastructure improvements. Green Bay, Wisconsin is one success story of the SRF put into action. NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, is perched at the edge of the Great Lakes, and serves about 236,000 residents, and cleans about 38 million gallons of water each day.

More than ten years ago, NEW Water realized that its solids handling facility was nearing the end of its useful life. Leaving things be was not an option; a compromised system would have jeopardized the nonstop service Green Bay residents and businesses had come to expect.

Leveraging SRF funding, NEW Water addressed this community need by building a new solids handling facility, called Resource Recovery and Electrical Energy, or R2E2.  Now that the project is complete, NEW Water is producing electricity, recovering and reusing heat, and is also recovering phosphorus in the form of struvite to be reused as a slow-release agricultural fertilizer. This project has shifted the utility from that of a consumer of resources, to that of a producer. In 2019, NEW Water’s biogas engine generators produced enough electricity to power about 1,560 average homes for an entire year.

“NEW Water-82” – To the right is the new solids building, part of the R2E2 facility, which features a state-of-the-art air pollution control system.

R2E2 enables NEW Water to continue providing clean water services for its community. NEW Water has recently received a Platinum Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for 17 years of consecutive, 100% permit compliance for wastewater discharge at its Green Bay Facility. Additionally, R2E2’s state-of-the-art air pollution control system allows NEW Water to meet and exceed stringent standards for air, which means cleaner air for the community.

“Thanks to the State Revolving Fund, we were able to save money for our ratepayers,” said Tom Sigmund, NEW Water Executive Director. “This added help is critical for communities like ours to protect valuable water resources and keep rates cost effective for the families, industries, and businesses who rely on us.”

The contributions of the SRF are many. The SRF staff at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources were critical in helping guide the NEW Water team through the funding application process. In large-scale projects such as R2E2, which cost approximately $180 million, approximately $144 million of which was funded through SRF, technical assistance can serve as a roadmap through the complexities of funding, which can involve multiple sources.

Green Bay’s success is one example of the sorts of benefits that communities can get from the State Revolving Fund Program. But more work needs to be done. The Great Lakes communities face an infrastructure backlog of over $188 billion, and the State Revolving Funds provide communities with the means to chip away at that. That’s why The Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition is advocating for additional water infrastructure funding (link to water infrastructure factsheet). With additional funding for the State Revolving Fund more communities facing problems like Green Bay did can get the help they need.

The post Waste Into Fuel: A Water Infrastructure Success in Green Bay appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/waste-into-fuel-a-water-infrastructure-success-in-green-bay/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: 2020 election, Chicago, Climate change, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, Equity and Environmental Justice, Feature-Chicago, flint, Gary Wilson, Illinois, Latest News, Michigan, News, outdoor recreation, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Recreation, Tourism and Culture, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Wisconsin
Policy Expert Q&A: Keep advocating with elected officials for safe drinking water

The Flint water crisis that made national and international headlines was a failure on many levels, according to University of Chicago Professor Sabina Shaikh.

Particularly, it was a public policy failure, Shaikh told Great Lakes Now in an interview, and the failure in Flint put a spotlight on environmental injustices.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/09/policy-expert-advocating-elected-officials-safe-drinking-water/

Gary Wilson

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In: Policy

Clean water is the lifeblood of communities across the globe – it is a basic need that all humans share, and it is one we cannot do without. Unfortunately, many communities across the Great Lakes region do not have access to safe drinking water due to pollution, including toxic chemicals such as lead and PFAS, farm runoff, and industry-related contamination.

Over the past 10 years, federal investments to restore and protect the Great Lakes have focused on cleaning up pollution and past environmental harm. These investments are producing results, but there is more work to do.

It’s also important to prevent pollution in the first place. Federal funding must go hand in hand with strong clean water protections. This means strengthening policies to ensure that polluters are not allowed to foul the water we all rely upon.

It is up to all candidates running for president in 2020 to explain how they will uphold clean water protections, oppose the weakening of environmental laws, and ensure that Great Lakes communities have access to clean water.

Water pollution continues to plague rural and urban communities alike. From cancer-causing PFAS contamination in Oscoda, Michigan to toxic metals in Wisconsin being released into Lake Michigan, these pollutants affect all of our communities, as all of our waters are connected.

It’s vital to prevent pollution at its source, whether a stream or the Great Lakes themselves, because all of our waters are connected. All streams and rivers flow into bodies of water that we rely on for our health and recreation. There are no streams and rivers where it is safe to pollute. When polluters are able to pollute waters in one area, that pollution contaminates water throughout the system.

With towns and cities still struggling with unsafe drinking water, we need more – not less – protections for clean water.

These protections must take local voices into account. States and tribes must have the power to protect local rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes and the Great Lakes themselves, from pollution. We must honor our communities and the stake they have in ensuring that that children and families do not have to go without the basic need of clean water.

Clean water protections save money for the nation and for local communities by preventing costly cleanups. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and by preventing dangerous and costly pollution, clean water protections more than pay for themselves in terms of lives saved and damage avoided.

Without strong clean water protections, we run the risk of undoing the progress we’ve made in cleaning up the Great Lakes and the streams and rivers that feed into them. The time is now. 2020 must be the year we redouble our commitment to strengthen our clean water protections and ensuring that no one must go without the basic need of clean water.

The post Strengthening Clean Water Protections: A 2020 Vision appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/strengthening-clean-water-protections-a-2020-vision/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, water infrastructure

Today is part two in our series on Great Lakes Priorities that both major party Presidential candidates must pledge to address in order to truly stand with Great Lakes communities. Last week we looked at the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and the wonderful work it continues to do for the Great Lakes and the 30 million Americans who call the region home. This week we’ll be looking at water infrastructure and the ways that communities are impacted by a lack of funding for basic infrastructure.

Safe, affordable drinking water is a basic human need, but too many Great Lakes communities suffer from a lack of access. Among the many cracks in our infrastructure that COVID-19 has revealed, the humanitarian crisis that afflicts millions of Americans – the lack of access to safe, affordable drinking water – must be addressed by the next President.

Our current water safety and affordability woes stem from decades of under-investment in the nation’s water infrastructure. Over the past forty years, federal investments in local wastewater and drinking water infrastructure have dropped precipitously. And the results are tragic. Upwards of 16 million Americans have experienced a water shutoff, and one study predicts that by 2022, more than one-third of people in the United States will have trouble paying their water bills.

As federal funding dropped off, local authorities have had to pick up the slack, and, too often, they cannot keep up. This has resulted in cracked pipes, lead and heavy metal exposure, along with soaring maintenance costs and skyrocketing water bills for local people. Great Lakes communities, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, feel the brunt of this disinvestment through higher costs and less safe water.

The EPA estimates that fixing, updating and modernizing the region’s crumbling water infrastructure will cost up to $188 billion over the next 20 years, and that backlog grows every year that we fail to invest in our nation’s water infrastructure.

The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is calling on the next president to create and fund an equitable plan that addresses our region’s $188 billion backlog in drinking water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure to ensure that all people have safe, clean and affordable drinking water.

America is at a crossroads, and together we can choose to bequeath to future generations a thriving water system where access to clean water is something that no one has to go without. That future can be ours with equitable investments that make sure that communities that have borne the brunt of decades of disinvestment are heard first and foremost.

But time is of the essence. Every year that passes without a solution is one more year of risk for thousands of water systems that are in need of maintenance. Sewage overflows, corroded pipes, and lead poisoning are just some of the consequences that communities are dealing with and will continue to deal with, so long as this infrastructure backlog is left unaddressed.

It’s time for both Joe Biden and Donald Trump to pledge to stand with Great Lakes communities and communities across America. It’s time for them to pledge to work with Congress on a realistic, actionable and equitable plan to deal with what America has put off for too long, including a tripling of federal investments, to start. America’s communities can’t wait.

The post A Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Plan for the 2020s appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/a-great-lakes-water-infrastructure-plan-for-the-2020s/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy

Democrats and Republicans are hosting their nominating conventions this week and next. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition – while we do not endorse or oppose any candidate for office – are urging all candidates to adopt a strong Great Lakes platform.

Today, we kick off a series of articles on the Coalition’s five-plank clean water platform. We’ll be discussing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative today, and over the next week, we’ll discuss the need for elected officials to boost clean water infrastructure funding, uphold clean water protections, fight invasive species, and confront toxic algal outbreaks.

Over the last 10 years, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has been a major driver behind the rejuvenation and recovery of the Great Lakes ecosystem from toxic pollution and other harmful human effects.

But serious threats remain. The 2020 election unfolds amid persistent threats to the health and safety of our Great Lakes communities. While significant progress has been made, much more remains to be done.

To build upon the gains already made and ensure a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem for future generations, presidential contenders Joe Biden and Donald Trump must pledge to increase the authorization and funding for the GLRI to $475 million to boost our work of cleaning up toxic contamination, reducing polluted runoff, stopping invasive species, restoring wetlands and other habitats, and responding to emerging threats.

Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been providing results for communities in the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Through innovative partnerships with local environmental organizations, state and federal governments, and citizen groups, the GLRI has made progress in cleaning up some of the most toxic hotspots around the region – sites with cancer-causing pollutants that closed beaches, led to fish consumption advisories, and prohibited the drinking of water.

Nearly two-fifths of the region’s most toxic hotspots have been cleaned up, sparking redevelopment and business opportunities on waterfronts and improving water quality for drinking water. Conservation practices on local farms have doubled, reducing harmful polluted runoff that feeds toxic algae. Habitat and wildlife restoration and connectivity continue to improve with over 5,250 miles of rivers cleared of dams and other barriers.

These projects are protecting drinking water, providing more recreational opportunities, and helping the health of communities. At a time when clean, safe drinking water is even more vital to health and safety, these GLRI funds make a difference.   In Michigan, GLRI funds helped remove and replace a risky, dilapidated dam with a natural “rock ramp” – allowing fish access to Saginaw Bay for the first time in over a century. In Wisconsin, a streambank restoration reduced storm runoff, improving flood management and providing habitat for native species. In Pennsylvania, over 400 acres of wetland habitat were removed of invasive species and restored to a healthy habitat, greatly increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation.

These are just a few of the thousands of projects that the GLRI has enabled over the past ten years – and many more are waiting to start! The bottom line is that there is more work to do, and we cannot let federal restoration efforts falter. Cutting funding will only make projects harder and more expensive the longer we wait. If every person is to have a healthy community to live in, with safe drinking water and fish to eat, and equitable access to recreate on clean beaches, shorelines, and restored landscapes, we must increase our efforts and focus resources in these areas today. Moving forward, our work will only get harder as the climate changes and we discover new threats.

Candidates who support the Great Lakes must make an unequivocal pledge to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at no less than $475 million and provide a robust roadmap for continuing the progress we’ve made into the 2020s.

The post The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A 2020 Vision appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative-a-2020-vision/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, Take Action

As the 2020 election fast approaches, the importance of civic participation in the election process is more important than ever. Great Lakes individuals must vote in order to make our voices heard and ensure that our elected officials are held accountable.

Below, please find state-by-state resources that will help your members vote this election cycle. Please note that the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is a non-partisan group that does not endorse or support parties or candidates for office. All resources below are curated from publicly-facing state websites.

Illinois:

Indiana:

Minnesota:


Michigan:

New York:

Ohio:

Pennsylvania:

Wisconsin:

The post 2020 Civic Engagement Guide appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-civic-engagement-guide/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, Press Releases

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 31, 2020) — The Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition applauds the passage of the U.S. House spending package (H.R. 7617) this afternoon, the second package key to funding Great Lakes programs across the region in fiscal year 2021, which begins Oct. 1. The two packages (the first of which cleared the House last week) include modest year-over-year increases that are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs.

“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the House funding package that was passed today,” said Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “The two packages together substantially boost federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.”

“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the Senate to pass this legislation to better our environment, economy, and to protect our public health.”

Regular Appropriations:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.
  • NOAA Harmful Algal Blooms: $22,000,000 — $3 million increase.
  • NOAA Sea Grant: $71,000,000 — $4 million increase.
  • Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal Barrier – $14,300,000 — $360,000 increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  • Lead Testing in Schools program: $50,000,000
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $1,000,000,000
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The post Second Major Funding Package Clears U.S. House, Includes Great Lakes, Clean Water Priorities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/second-major-funding-package-clears-u-s-house-includes-great-lakes-clean-water-priorities/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, Press Releases

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (July 29, 2020) — The House of Representatives today passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 by a voice vote. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports several core Great Lakes and clean water priorities in the bill that help stop Asian carp, halt toxic algal outbreaks, and create incentives for nature-based solutions to flooding and other environmental problems. The bill also calls for expanding an existing study to look at the impact of record high lake levels on coastal flooding, storm damage, ecosystem restoration and recreation.

“This bill advances solutions to confront serious threats facing the Great Lakes and communities—and the investments it makes in clean water priorities will benefit our environment and economy,” said Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We thank members of the Great Lakes congressional delegation for standing up for our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and quality of life.”

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed similar water infrastructure legislation in April, which not only included the Water Resources Development Act, but also supported critical investments in stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater infrastructure.

“Water infrastructure legislation is moving in both the House and Senate,” continued Lord. “Clean water is a basic need. Now is the time for Congress to come together and pass a water infrastructure bill that helps Great Lakes communities ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable water.”

The Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 7575) authorizes the construction of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes and wreaking environmental and economic harm.

The bill also contains provisions to study and combat the rise of toxic algal blooms, which can poison drinking water and threaten the health of communities which rely on the Great Lakes for water.

In addition, the 2020 Water Resources Development Act includes provisions for:

  • Nature-based solution for flood control projects in which wetlands, parks, forests, and rain gardens absorb rain and storm water before it overwhelms communities.
  • Studies of the effects that rising lake levels are having on Great Lakes communities.
  • Technical assistance to non-Federal interests and federal agencies to plan for increased flooding and extreme weather caused by climate change.
  • A pilot program to explore strategies for damage reduction during extreme weather events for economically disadvantaged communities.

The Coalition sent a letter to the Senate Committee outlining provisions it supports in April. You can read it here.

Congress must reconcile the two bills this fall before sending final legislation to the President.

The post House Passes Bill, Bolstering Defenses Against Asian Carp, Toxic Algae appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-passes-bill-bolstering-defenses-against-asian-carp-toxic-algae/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy, Press Releases, Washington Update

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 24, 2020) — The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and its Great Lakes Delegation for passing the Interior and Environment funding bill this afternoon. The bill’s modest year-over-year increases are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs.

“The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition fully supports the House Interior and Environment funding bill that was passed today,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition. “The bill substantially boosts federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.

“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the Senate to pass this legislation to better our environment and economy and to protect our public health.”

The bill also includes an additional $500 million in emergency supplemental funding for lead pipe replacement through the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program. Lead by Rep. Tlaib (MI-13) and Rep. Kildee (MI-05), supported by the Coalition and approved by the House, the amendment doubled the funds available for the program.

The Interior and Environment funding bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. The funding bill includes:

Regular Appropriations:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  • Lead Testing in Schools program: $50,000,000
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $1,000,000,000
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The bill includes funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020, and ends September 30, 2021.

The post Great Lakes Coalition Applauds House Passage of Major Infrastructure Bill appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-applauds-house-passage-of-major-infrastructure-bill/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: COVID-19, epa, forever chemicals, Forever Chemicals Featured, Latest News, Michigan, News, PFAS, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
PFAS News Roundup: Potential COVID-19 connection, DOD bill, Michigan lakes and rivers with PFAS foam

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widespread man-made chemicals that don’t break down in the environment or the human body and have been flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country.

Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/07/pfas-michigan-foam-pfas-covid-19/

Samantha Cantie

On:
In: Policy

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (June 30, 2020)—The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday began debate on the Moving Forward Act, which would authorize over $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending. The bill, H.R. 2, includes $8 billion for sewage infrastructure and boosts Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $475 million. It also devotes more than $1 billion to help public utilities deal with toxic PFAS contamination. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the bill.

“The Moving Forward Act will benefit communities, public health, and the Great Lakes,” said Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin. “The need for this investment in our nation’s infrastructure is undeniable and urgent. The federal government’s decades-long disinvestment in water infrastructure has led to a staggering $179 billion backlog in work in the Great Lakes region, public health crisis due to lead contamination and other pollutants in drinking water, and skyrocketing water rates that are leaving many people with unaffordable water bills. These new investments will go a long way in improving access and affordability to the basic need of clean drinking water. We look forward to working with bipartisan members of Congress to pass and fund this legislation.”

The post U.S. House Infrastructure Package A Boon for Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-house-infrastructure-package-a-boon-for-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

On:
In: Policy

The 2020 election has unfolded at a critical juncture for the Great Lakes and the communities who call this region home. We’ve seen progress over the last 15 years to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

But more work remains. Though a scheduled debate between major party Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Michigan had to be canceled recently due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the environmental issues that are pressing upon Great Lakes communities have not let up – indeed, the pandemic has exposed critical fault lines in the infrastructure needed to protect the Great Lakes.

That’s why the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is urging White House aspirants Donald Trump and Joe Biden to support a robust clean water platform to tackle Great Lakes issues now and beyond. Environmental stewardship and healthy communities are not only about fixing problems as they arise – they’re also about putting solutions in place for the long term that leave no community behind. We are asking candidates to:

Invest in Water Infrastructure

The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened already existing inequities when it comes to water rates and affordability. The pandemic illustrated how  water shutoffs impact low-income communities and communities of color. These impacts have been growing for decades because of disinvestment in community water infrastructure. The federal government’s contribution to local water infrastructure projects has declined from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending in 1977 to 9 percent today. This disinvestment has left communities struggling with high rates and unsafe water.

To stand up for Great Lakes communities, candidates must triple federal investments to fix our region’s water infrastructure. A staggering $179 billion is needed to address the infrastructure backlog in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. And climate change will only exacerbate existing challenges due to more intense rain events that can overwhelm antiquated infrastructure. Our next president must make our water infrastructure backlog a priority.

Support Great Lakes Restoration

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is producing results to protect and restore the Great Lakes from a variety of threats in the 10 years it has been in place. But much more work needs to be done. The next president must ramp up Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $475 million to boost the work already done in cleaning up toxic contamination, reducing polluted runoff, stopping invasive species, restoring wetlands and other habitats, and responding to emerging threats.

The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 30 million Americans, and provide billions of dollars in fishing, recreation, tourism and other industries to local economies. Over the past decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided the communities that live around the Great Lakes untold economic and social benefits. Studies show that the GLRI returns to the community $3 in economic benefit for every $1 invested. You can find a list of some of the great projects we’ve written about here.

Support Clean Water Protections

Clean water is a basic human need, but too many towns and cities are still living with unsafe drinking water, due to well-known contaminants like lead and emerging contaminants such as toxic PFAS. Federal laws that help communities protect drinking water from threats like lead and PFAS must be rigorously enforced. Candidates who support the Great Lakes must commit to enforcing clean water and drinking water laws and developing tougher standards to help community’s clean-up and prevent public health problems from legacy pollutants, existing contamination, and emerging threats in the region’s waterways.

Control Invasive Species

The Great Lakes support a $7 billion fishing industry that is being threatened by invasive species – particularly Asian Carp. In places in the Illinois River, where the carp have taken over, these invasive fish make up 90 percent of the aquatic life present. It is vital that Asian Carp not be allowed to take root in the Great Lakes. The next President must commit to building new prevention measures at Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent the transfer of Asian Carp from the Mississippi River Basin to the Great Lakes Basin.

End Toxic Algal Blooms

Toxic blooms of algae are a significant threat to the ecology of the Great Lakes and the safety of the drinking water for those who live in Great Lakes communities. In 2014, a toxic algal outbreak blanketed western Lake Erie, prompting Toledo city officials to issue a “do not drink” advisory impacting more than 400,000 people. Slow progress has been made towards the 40 percent Lake Erie phosphorus reduction target for 2025, and both observed and projected climate change impacts, such as increases in heavy rainfall and rising temperatures, are increasing the prevalence and threats posed by HABs across the region. Candidates must explain how they will reduce harmful algal blooms across the region by linking the region’s Farm Bill conservation funding and Clean Water Act programs to numeric, water-quality based outcomes.

 

The post The 2020 Election: A Critical Time for the Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/the-2020-election-a-critical-time-for-the-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

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In: Enbridge Line 5 and Other Pipelines, Groundwater Contamination, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, infrastructure, Latest News, Lead, legislation, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, u.s. epa, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Regulatory Rollbacks: Loss of federal water protections impacts Great Lakes region

The Trump administration has made a habit of rolling back federal environmental protections over the past few years.

According to The New York Times, 100 environmental rules have been reversed since President Donald Trump took office. Among those rules are thirteen changes or proposed changes that directly impact the Great Lakes, other regional waterways and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/regulatory-rollbacks-federal-water-protections-great-lakes-region/

Emily Simroth

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Conflicted Over Copper: Technological advances clash with environmental concerns in Twin Metals case

This is the third in a three-part series that will explore the history of Lake Superior and the Boundary waters, the communities affected by two proposed copper mines, the arguments in favor and against the mines, and what the mines might mean for the future of the Great Lakes.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/twin-metals-copper-mine-minnesota/

Lorraine Boissoneault

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Sporting Uncertainty: COVID-19 casts shadow over Great Lakes sports events

Events around the lakes are being canceled, postponed or put on hold until more information comes out.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/covid-19-coronavirus-sports-recreation-events-canceled/

Gary Wilson

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Great Lakes Moment: Earth Day turns 50

Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig shares his own memories of the first Earth Day and the changes he’s noticed in the nature around him since then.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-moment-earth-day-turns-50/

John Hartig

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Michigan’s efforts to root out and deal with PFAS contamination

In this web exclusive, Great Lakes Now looks at Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/episode-1012-web-extra-pfas-mpart/

Ric Mixter

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In: AP, Chicago, COVID-19, environment, Great Lakes, Illinois, Lake Michigan, News, Policy
Lack of social distancing leads to closure of parks, trails in Chicago and elsewhere

All over the United States, mayors and other officials fed up with residents who ignore social distancing guidelines have been shutting down parks, beaches, marinas and other public areas.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-covid-19-closure-parks-trails-chicago/

The Associated Press

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PFAS News Roundup: Indiana restricts PFAS foam, Wisconsin utility sued, 651 military bases likely polluted

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/pfas-indiana-wisconsin-new-york-landfill-military/

Ric Mixter

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Taking It in Stride: How Great Lakes islanders are weathering the COVID-19 storm

The tourism that usually rises around this time is on hold, but residents are battening down with ease.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/great-lakes-islands-ferry-coronavirus-covid-19/

Sharon Oosthoek

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Research Unknowns: COVID-19 puts Great Lakes field research prep on hold

While field research prep is delayed, the science itself hasn’t stopped as universities and researchers continue to work.

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Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/great-lakes-delay-research-coronavirus-covid-19/

Gary Wilson

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Detroit set to restore water service amid coronavirus fears

By Corey Williams, Associated Press Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Thousands of Detroit residents who have had their water service shut off due to nonpayment of bills can have it restored under a plan that aims to allow them to wash their hands at home as a way to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

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The Associated Press

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Struck Down: Federal court rules Lake Erie Bill of Rights unconstitutional

Judge Zouhary says LEBOR’s too vague to be a law.

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James Proffitt

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In: Policy

This week, Congress passed and the President signed the FY2020 budget, funding critical Great Lakes and clean water programs. This budget is the culmination of a year of hard work and advocacy on the part of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition and our members and partners, who engaged with communities to identify environmental needs and met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,  and in their home states to let their representatives know how important the Great Lakes are for our drinking water, our economy and our way of life.

Here are a few highlights in this year’s budget:

1) Increased Funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

For the first time since 2011, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative saw a funding increase, from $300 million to $320 million.

For more than a decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been the bedrock of restoration efforts across the Great Lakes. The initiative has funded thousands of restoration projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, including projects to restore wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, and much more.

Click here to read about some of the amazing projects that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded.

2) Equitable Investments in Clean Drinking Water Infrastructure

The 2020 budget includes investments in infrastructure, including, $25.4 million for grants to small and disadvantaged communities. These grants will work to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in communities that have traditionally been disinvested in, including rural communities and communities of color.

The budget also includes $19.5 million in grants to reduce lead in drinking water, which has been a persistent and prevalent problem in low-income communities.

Additionally, the budget includes $28 million in new dedicated funding to combat sewage overflows and build infrastructure for stormwater re-use. Sewage overflows and stormwater runoff are a major factor in polluting the streams and rivers that flow into the Great Lakes, and mitigating these sources must come at the local level. This new funding gives municipalities and water districts the tools they need to start fixing outdated sewage and stormwater infrastructure.

These investments are in addition to federal funding for two national water infrastructure program—the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, programs that provide low-interest loans to communities to fix and modernize wastewater infrastructure and drinking water infrastructure, respectively. Those programs saw slight declines in the current budget. Congress allocated $1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (a $55 million decrease over fiscal year 2019) and $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (a nearly $38 million decrease over fiscal year).

3) Combating Invasive Species

The 2020 budget includes an increase in funding for research and action to prevent invasive species, particularly Asian Carp, from entering the Great Lakes. An additional $14 million was allocated for activities to prevent Asian Carp from entering and establishing in the Great Lakes, bringing total funding up to $25 million, while an additional $3 million was allocated to fund further research into early detection practices and control technologies critical to slowing the expansion of Asian Carp.

Stopping the spread of Asian Carp and preventing their establishment in the Great Lakes is a major priority for the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition and its partners, and this budget acknowledges the seriousness of the threat and the work we have left to do. The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition supports the work that our partners are leading in making sure these harmful species do not enter the Great Lakes.

4) Researching and monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms

Toxic algal blooms threaten the drinking water and economy of Great Lakes communities, and the 2020 budget allocates $19 million to research and forecast these blooms.

Using these funds, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies will continue to work collaboratively with research partners, developing integrated approaches to understand the drivers, forecast, and help keep communities informed of the threat of toxic blooms. Research will also help to improve management strategies to reduce the frequency, severity and impacts of these blooms.

5) Funding critical science and research

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the 2020 budget includes funding to continue the critical science, research, and education needed to help restore and protect the waters that communities across the Great Lakes rely on. This includes funding for: the Great Lakes Science Center and National Sea Grant College Program.

Funded at $11.8 million, including an additional $3 million in this year’s budget, the Great Lakes Science Center is a facility operated by the U.S. Geological Survey for essential ecosystem assessment and fisheries management research. These funds will be crucial in surveying the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and providing information to respond to threats as they occur.

The National Sea Grant College Program is a federal-university partnership program that works to maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy. The 2020 budget acknowledged its importance by increasing funding by $6 million for a total of $74 million. By combining university expertise with public outreach experts, the Sea Grant program is a critical research program for ensuring that our Great Lakes remain healthy and vibrant.

All told, the final budget provides a solid foundation to keep federal restoration on track and sets the stage for progress in 2020. As Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin said: “We look forward to working with Congress in the new year to ensure that the Great Lakes remains a bi-partisan priority.”

The post 2020 Budget a Win For the Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-budget-a-win-for-the-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

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In: 2020 Budget, Drinking Water Infrastructure, Fighting Invasive Species, Great Lakes Restoration Initative, Policy, Press Releases, stormwater

Federal Budget Supports Great Lakes, Clean Water Funding

Congress increases funding to Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by $20 million

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 17, 2019) — Great Lakes restoration and clean water programs received support in the final federal budget, released last night by the U.S. House and Senate. The fiscal year 2020 budget increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative—the first increase for the program in ten years— as well as provides new investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure programs.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition said:

“This budget is good news for the Great Lakes and the 30 million Americans who depend on them for their drinking water, jobs, and way of life. Federal investments are producing results, but serious threats remain, such as polluted runoff, invasive species, and toxic pollution. This budget acknowledges those threats and the work that we still need to do.

“We thank the Great Lakes congressional delegation – especially members on the House and Senate appropriations committee – for continuing to make the Great Lakes a national priority, and for ensuring that restoration efforts remain on track. We look forward to working with Congress in the new year to ensure that the Great Lakes remains a bi-partisan priority.”

The final fiscal year 2020 budget was passed by the House on Tuesday. The Senate is expected to pick it up later this week. The budget includes:

  •  $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore habitat, clean up toxic pollution, and fight invasive species—a $20 million increase over fiscal year 2019 and the first increase since the program’s second year in existence in 2010.
  •  $1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities fix and upgrade wastewater infrastructure—a $55 million decrease over fiscal year 2019.
  •  $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help communities fix and upgrade drinking water infrastructure—a nearly $38 million decrease over fiscal year 2019.
  • An additional $14 million ($25 million total) to protect and enhance Asian carp activities to prevent them from entering and establishing in the Great Lakes and for Asian carp activities in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, including its sub-basins. Not less than $2,500,000 is to be used for contract fishing.
  • An additional $3 million ($10.6 million total) to fund further research into early detection practices and control technologies critical to slowing and responding to the range expansion of Asian Carp. $3,000,000 is to be used for research on grass carp.

Reductions in traditional infrastructure programs were partially offset by increases to some existing programs as well as a host of newly funded grant programs to help communities deal with water infrastructure, among them:

  •  $25.4 million for grants to small and disadvantaged communities.
  •  $28 million for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grants.
  •  $3 million for drinking water infrastructure resilience grants.
  • $19.5 million for grants to reduce lead in drinking water.
  • $1 million for water infrastructure workforce development grants.

The post Federal Budget Supports Great Lakes, Clean Water Funding appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/federal-budget-supports-great-lakes-clean-water-funding/

Pavan Vangipuram

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In: Action Plan 3, Action Plan III, epa, Great Lakes, Policy

Great Lakes Action Plan Offers Steady Path Forward

Last month, the EPA released its long-awaited Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III, outlining the strategy guiding federal actions to restore and protect the Lakes being undertaken by federal agencies in partnership with the region.

The plan’s release comes at a time when both the U.S. House and Senate are seeking to increase funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative beyond $300 million per year. Over the last 10 years, Congress has invested over $3.1 billion in Great Lakes Restoration, and securing a strong action plan has long been a priority of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

The recently released plan for the Great Lakes hews closely to previously released action plans. It guides federal restoration efforts around four major priorities: cleaning up toxic hot-spots (so-called Areas of Concern), restoring fish and wildlife habitat, working to stop the spread of invasive species such as Asian Carp, and reducing agricultural runoff to fight toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes.

Here’s our take on the EPA’s action plan:

1. These are the right priorities to focus on – taken together, they point to a solid plan for restoring and preserving the health of the Great Lakes.

2. It’s going to take robust funding and strong policy to make this plan a reality. In addition to robust funding for restoration projects, it will be essential to have strong policies in place that protect the Great Lakes and the waters that feed them. The Trump Administration and the EPA must reverse its decision to gut protections for streams, waterways and wetlands. With many cities and towns still living with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut back on clean water enforcement. We need to strengthen clean water protections, not roll them back.

3. Robust investments in water infrastructure are also needed to ensure that restoration efforts last for the long term. Aging sewer and stormwater infrastructure threaten the health of the Great Lakes and the health of the millions of Americans who rely on the lakes for drinking water. The Great Lakes region faces at least $179 billion of needed improvements to its water infrastructure to provide local communities with drinking water and wastewater services. It’s imperative that Congress boost investments to fix our crumbling infrastructure.

4. The bipartisan support for Great Lakes restoration continues to pay dividends. Over the last decade, Republicans and Democrats have come together to make Great Lakes restoration a national priority and to provide much-needed funding for restoration efforts. That cooperation continues. Recently the U.S. Senate recommended increasing Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding from $300 million to $310 million; and the U.S. House boosted restoration investments from $300 million to $320 million. The final budget is yet to be determined—yet it’s clear that bipartisan cooperation has been essential to success. The Great Lakes congressional delegation has shown great leadership to make that funding a reality.

5. Climate change will only exacerbate threats to the lakes—and needs to be taken into account as restoration efforts move forward. As climate change continues its course, the Great Lakes region is witnessing more intense storms, greater flooding, more shore erosion and more runoff pollution that fuels toxic algal outbreaks. These new challenges will require continued investment in the lakes, as well as solid plans to ensure that their worst effects can be mitigated.

6. Future plans must explicitly address equity and justice issues. Low-income communities and communities of color are bearing the brunt of environmental degradation caused by pollution and climate change. Yet, traditionally, these communities have been the least likely to have a seat at the table when solutions are being devised. Any plan to restore the Great Lakes must take these inequities into account and take the lead from these communities.

Moving forward, the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition looks to work with Congress to finalize the restoration funding allocation and maintain funding for the long term. We also seek to secure funding to upgrade vital water infrastructure and to eliminate the rollbacks of clean water protections that threaten the health and vitality of our lakes.

The post Great Lakes Action Plan Offers Steady Path Forward appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-action-plan-offers-steady-path-forward/

Pavan Vangipuram