Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today applauded the states of Illinois and Michigan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for signing a project partnership agreement (PPA) for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This project, which was originally authorized in 2020, is a key component of the region’s longstanding efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp.

“Preventing invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes is a team effort, and the Great Lakes community is stepping up to meet the moment,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “Signing the Brandon Road PPA is a critical step in keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. Illinois, Michigan, and the Army Corps of Engineers all deserve enormous credit for the years-long effort to address this threat. The GLC is also especially grateful for our Great Lakes congressional delegation, who have worked tirelessly to secure federal funding and policy changes necessary to move forward with construction.”

The GLC has worked for over 30 years on efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, including support for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Since 2019, the GLC has convened the Brandon Road States and Provinces Forum, which has served as an important venue for information-sharing and problem-solving.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is located at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. This project will include installation of technologies that will prevent invasive bighead, black, and silver carp from entering Lake Michigan through the Chicago Area Waterway System. Invasive carp present a significant threat to the Great Lakes, including their impacts on ecosystems, fisheries, and recreation, all of which help to drive the Great Lakes regional economy.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Mich. – Organizations across the region will work together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the sixth annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, June 26 – July 6, 2024. Volunteers will demonstrate to boaters and others how to prevent the spread of AIS, how to identify AIS, and how to report AIS, which are recognized as one of the most significant threats to the ecological and economic health of the Great Lakes. This annual event is coordinated through an international partnership of federal, state, and provincial agencies and Indigenous Nations with the support of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and others.

“The GLC is proud to continue partnering with the states and provinces and organizations around the basin to engage the public about the threat of invasive species,” said GLC Chair Mary Mertz, Director of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Educating boaters and others who love our Great Lakes about the impacts of harmful, nonnative aquatic plants and animals is critical to protecting our regional ecosystems, tourism and economy.”

In 2023, over 840 public and private boat landings in nine Great Lakes states and provinces participated in the Landing Blitz, and approximately 150,000 people were educated about AIS by more than 1,100 volunteers. Additionally, more than 100,000 people saw information about the Landing Blitz on social media.

For the third year, the GLC is also awarding more than $55,000 in competitive grants to local organizations to support broader participation in the Landing Blitz. This funding will be used by grantees to host local events, expanding the overall reach of the initiative. This year eight grants were awarded:

Funding for the Landing Blitz is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through an agreement between the GLC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, including educational materials, location, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.glc.org/blitz.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a new opportunity associated with the GLC’s longstanding Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) grant program. This pilot program will support conservation districts in deploying the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF). ACPF is a free ArcGIS toolbox designed to help local farming communities address their soil and water conservation needs using high resolution geo-spatial data.

Conservation districts are eligible to receive funding of up to $10,000 to support work over a one-year period. Applicants are invited to submit proposals describing how funding will help to facilitate project planning for precision sediment and nutrient pollution reduction. The RFP offers three options for districts (or groups of districts working as a coalition) based on existing local knowledge of the geographic information system (GIS) software powering the ACPF.  The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on June 14. Funding decisions are anticipated by August 2024 for selected projects to begin work no later than October 1, 2024.

Application information and materials are available through the GLSNRP webpage. A webinar for applicants will be offered on May 17 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss the application process and provide information on the ACPF. To register for the webinar visit https://bit.ly/acpfwebinar. A recording of the webinar will also be posted to the webpage for those unable to attend the live session.

As a reminder, the GLSNRP application period for applicants with shovel-ready conservation projects is also open now, with applications due on April 29 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. For more information on either program, please contact Connor Roessler at croessler@glc.org or 734-396-6085.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals (RFP) to support participation in the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF) and implementation of priority Phragmites management actions. Indigenous Nations, U.S.-based state or local units of government, lake associations/watershed protection groups, nonprofit organizations, universities/colleges, and conservation groups may apply for grants in the expected range of $5,000 to $30,000 (with higher amounts considered) to manage nonnative Phragmites using one of twelve priority management combinations during the period of July 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025.

This funding supports strategic advances in nonnative Phragmites management and is designed to expand and enhance PAMF, which is helping to determine best management practices for nonnative Phragmites in the Great Lakes region. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative webpage for a comprehensive overview of this funding opportunity. Grant recipients will be expected to report back monitoring and management data as stated in the PAMF Participant Guide.

A webinar for potential applicants will be held on March 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 12, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the Great Lakes states and Indigenous Nations. Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in May 2024. Selected projects may begin work as soon as July 1, 2024.

For more information, please contact GLC Project Manager Sam Tank at sam@glc.org or 734-396-6055. 

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  In a ceremony held today, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), and International Joint Commission (IJC) formally signed the first-ever memorandum of understanding between them. The agreement sets a clear path for advancing the commissions’ existing shared goals and objectives, such as developing a Great Lakes science plan, coordinating science vessel activities, and promoting annual Great Lakes Day events.  Photos from the ceremony are available here.

Each commission plays a different but complementary role in Great Lakes management and represent important stakeholders in advancing sound policies and projects. The IJC helps Canada and the United States prevent and resolve issues over the use of the waters they share, including through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; the GLC represents the interests of the Great Lakes provinces and states on priority issues; and the GLFC ensures fishery management is based on science and highly coordinated among the state, provincial, and U.S. tribal jurisdictions in the basin.

“The GLC is excited to formalize our existing relationship with the other Great Lakes commissions,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “Together we can build upon our decades of coordination to further a strong regional economy and healthy environment, and to achieve the balanced and sustainable use of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin water resources.”

“Our three commissions, although having different mandates and missions, very much benefit from joining forces to achieve our shared objectives: Great Lakes restoration and management based on rigorous science,” said Marc Gaden, executive secretary of the GLFC. “While we have worked well together for decades, this MOU steps up our level of collaboration and renews our commitment to each other to seek synergies, share information, and support each other’s work.”

“This MOU strengthens existing partnerships to create an even greater position of strength for all three commissions,” said Heather Stirratt, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the IJC. “Having the additional insights and perspectives from experts at the three commissions will set us all on a clearer path for advancing the goals and objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and other work to the benefit of all in the region.”

The agreement was signed following the Semiannual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, and in advance of Thursday’s annual Great Lakes Day celebration, including the Great Lakes Day Congressional Breakfast Reception. This event will feature remarks by regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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.

Washington, D.C. – A binational coalition of regional agencies, Indigenous Nations, legislators, local communities, and business, maritime and environmental groups today released shared priorities for restoring the Great Lakes and supporting the region’s economy. The priorities were released 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.

Restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is an enduring, bipartisan priority for the nation and for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin communities,” the priorities read. “Our organizations support the following priorities to accelerate progress, foster equity, build resilience, and ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, an environmental treasure, and an economic engine for North America.

The agenda urges Congress and the Biden administration to: capitalize on investments in Great Lakes restoration, including by appropriating no less than $450 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in FY 2025; ensure water infrastructure investments tackle historic inequities; enhance the Great Lakes’ resiliency to the impacts of climate change; develop coordinated regional science plans; strengthen Great Lakes ports and the maritime transportation system; support federal actions to address harmful algal blooms; take action to address emerging contaminants; and protect the Great Lakes basin from invasive carp and other aquatic invasive species.

The priorities 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, Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, Great Lakes Business Network, and Lake Carriers’ Association.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the 2024 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) grant program.

For more than 30 years, grants provided by GLSNRP have enabled local partners to reduce nutrients and sediments entering the Great Lakes. This year’s program will continue to help grantees take action to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds and eroding shorelines and streambanks in the Great Lakes basin.

Through the program, nonfederal units of government, Indigenous Nations, and incorporated nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive grants for up to $300,000, supporting work over a period of up to four years. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for activities associated with one of the following project types: agricultural nonpoint, or shoreline and streambanks.

A webinar for potential applicants will be held on March 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Applications are due at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 29, 2024 and will be reviewed by representatives from the eight Great Lakes states, as well as partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in summer 2024, with work to begin no later than October 1, 2024.

The GLC has managed GLSNRP with funding support through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative since 2010. Funded projects support progress toward the achievement of GLRI Action Plan objectives and goals. This program is a partnership between NRCS, U.S. EPA, and the Great Lakes states. Please visit www.nutrientreduction.org for more information or contact Connor Roessler at croessler@glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Michigan – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today issued a request for proposals to support in-person outreach to recreational boaters in coordination with the annual regional Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Landing Blitz.

The Landing Blitz is an annual event, coordinated by the GLC, that brings together Great Lakes stakeholders to amplify messaging about preventing the introduction and spread of AIS at boating access sites across the region. Units of government (Indigenous, state or local), lake associations, conservation groups, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education are invited to apply to receive grants for up to $10,000 to support work during the 2024 Blitz period of June 26 – July 6. Applicants should submit proposals for activities that provide in-person outreach to recreational boaters at boat launches.

The due date for grant applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 5, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the eight Great Lakes states. Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in late April. Selected projects may begin work as soon as June 1, so long as a minimum of three outreach events are planned, and at least one event occurs during the primary event dates of June 26 – July 6.

This funding is intended to expand access to water bodies and access points that have not historically been included as participants in previous Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz events. For more information, please contact GLC Project Manager Ceci Weibert at cweibert@glc.org or 734-971-9135.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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.

Oregon, Ohio – At its Annual Meeting, held this week on the shores of Lake Erie in Oregon, Ohio, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) elected a new chair and vice chair and passed resolutions calling for reform of U.S Army Corps of Engineers project partnership agreements and increased funding for dredging of small harbors in the Great Lakes basin.

“It’s my honor to be elected chair of the Great Lakes Commission,” said new GLC Chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “In my role as director of the ODNR, I’m proud to be implementing our H2Ohio campaign to restore and create wetlands in key locations across Ohio, focusing on the Lake Erie watershed. I look forward to bringing this energy to protecting our other incredible bodies of water in the Great Lakes basin.”

Timothy Bruno, coordinator of the Great Lakes program at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, was elected vice chair of the GLC. The 2023 Annual Meeting featured a conversation with award-winning journalist Dan Egan on his recent book regarding phosphorus and its role in creating harmful algae blooms (HABs) and “dead zones” in waterways including Lake Erie. Great Lakes Commissioners also heard from an expert panel on HABs, as well as panels on other topics including community restoration and protection, bird conservation and dredging and water levels in Great Lakes channels. During meeting breaks, students from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Conservation Teen Advisory Council presented their work on Great Lakes topics.

The Annual Meeting was the last for Todd Ambs in his role as chair. Ambs, a longtime Great Lakes conservationist, former deputy director of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and leader of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, will remain a commissioner representing the state of Wisconsin.

“It has been an honor to serve as chair of the Great Lakes Commission over the last two years. For 68 years, this commission has engaged in such important work – to do all that we can for the benefit of the most significant surface freshwater resources on the planet – our Great Lakes.”

The GLC will next convene in Washington, D.C. for its Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day in March 2024. More information will be available on www.glc.org in advance of the meeting. 

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced today that it will award more than $1.5 million in grants to reduce the runoff of sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants into the Great Lakes and their tributaries through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program.

“For more than thirty years, grants under the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program have prevented millions of pounds of phosphorus and tons of sediments from entering the Great Lakes,” said Todd L. Ambs, chair of the Great Lakes Commission and deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired). “The Great Lakes Commission congratulates the 2023 grantees of this enduring program and is looking forward to witnessing their work contribute to a healthier Great Lakes basin.”

Each year, the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program provides competitive grants to local and state governments, Indigenous Nations, and nonprofit organizations to install erosion and nutrient control practices in the Great Lakes basin, including innovative and unique practices not typically funded by other federal cost-share programs. The 2023 projects focus on two approaches: long-term sediment and nutrient management through engagement with the agricultural community and streambank restoration.

The following grants have been awarded:

Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided funding for the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). In that time, the GLRI has provided more than $3.7 billion to fund more than 7,500 projects across the Great Lakes region which protect freshwater resources by restoring wetlands, preventing the spread of invasive species, and reducing sediment and nutrients.

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

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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.

Chicago, Illinois – At its Semiannual Meeting, held this week in Chicago, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) passed resolutions calling for support of critical Great Lakes programs in the 2023 Farm Bill, and expressing its priorities for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV. Commissioners also approved a resolution expressing their support for the establishment of a Great Lakes Green Shipping Corridor Network. Green shipping corridors are intended to spur the early adoption of zero-emission fuels and technologies.

“The Great Lakes are enjoying unprecedented support from both federal governments, but we must ensure that agencies continue to collaborate with the states and provinces to strengthen the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region for future generations,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs, of Wisconsin. “We look forward to working with these partners on GLRI Action Plan IV, the Farm Bill reauthorization, and the establishment of a green shipping corridor in the Great Lakes. Thanks to our commissioners, observers, and partners for joining us in Chicago.”

During the meeting, the GLC heard keynote remarks from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, and U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. The GLC convened expert panels on indigenous perspectives on climate change and resiliency; coastal resiliency planning, capacity, and implementation; and preventing the spread of invasive carp to the Great Lakes. In advance of the meeting, Great Lakes Commissioners and guests visited three coastal restoration locations in Chicago, including Powderhorn Lake, site of a project by GLC and partners to reconnect local waterways with Lake Michigan.

The GLC will next convene in Ohio for its Annual Meeting on October 3-5, 2023. More information will be available on www.glc.org in advance of the meeting.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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 (GLC) announced that it has been awarded more than $10 million to fund habitat restoration in the Great Lakes basin. The funding will accelerate projects in the Niagara River and Maumee Areas of Concern (AOCs): the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park Restoration Project in Buffalo, New York; the Collins Park Restoration Project in Toledo, Ohio; and the University of Toledo Swan Creek Restoration Project, also in Toledo, Ohio.

The funding was awarded as part of a new regional partnership between the GLC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore Great Lakes coastal habitat, with a focus on areas of historic pollution more formally known as AOCs. This work directly contributes to efforts to remove the Niagara and Maumee Rivers from the list of Great Lakes AOCs.

“This is the fifth time since 2008 that the Great Lakes Commission has been awarded funding for habitat restoration, with over $76 million being directed to priority sites across the basin,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “We appreciate NOAA’s continued support and look forward to working with our federal, state and local partners on these critical projects. Restoring Great Lakes coastal wetlands and riparian areas protects the environment and human health, as well as being a great economic driver for the region.”

To celebrate its new partnership with NOAA, the GLC has released a new video highlighting the benefits of this collaboration. This video was produced by Great Lakes Outreach Media and features key partners. The video can be viewed here.

For more information about the GLC’s habitat restoration work, visit https://www.glc.org/work/habitat.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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.

The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals (RFP)  to support in-person outreach and voluntary watercraft inspections in coordination with the annual regional Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Landing Blitz. This funding is intended to support partner activities with a specific focus on expanding access and event coverage to water bodies and access points that have not historically been included as participants in previous Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz events. Tribal or U.S.-based local units of government, lake associations/watershed protection groups, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, universities/colleges, conservation groups are eligible to apply for the grants, which expected to range from $4,000 and $10,000.

The Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz is an annual event that brings together state agencies and local volunteer partners to visit public and private boating access sites to deliver messaging about preventing the introduction and spread of AIS from the movement of watercraft and equipment between water bodies. The Great Lakes Commission coordinates the Landing Blitz in partnership with state and provincial agencies and Sea Grant program staff.

Applications are due April 21, 2023 and project activities are expected to take place at least from June 30 – July 9, 2023. Please contact Ceci Weibert at cweibert@glc.org with any questions.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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 – In advance of Great Lakes Day this week, a binational coalition of regional agencies, Indigenous nations, legislators, local communities, and business, maritime and environmental groups today released shared priorities for restoring the Great Lakes and supporting the region’s economy. Great Lakes Day is an annual event that brings together regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. Great Lakes Day will be held in-person in Washington, D.C. for the first time since March 2020.

“Restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is an enduring, bipartisan priority for the nation and for Great Lakes basin communities,” the priorities read. “Support of these priorities will accelerate progress, foster equity, build resilience, and ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, an environmental treasure, and an economic engine for North America.”

The agenda urges Congress and the Biden administration to: appropriate no less than $425 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in FY 2024, in addition to the supplemental investment through the infrastructure legislation; ensure water infrastructure investments tackle historic inequities; enhance the Great Lakes’ resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate; develop coordinated regional science plans; strengthen Great Lakes ports and the maritime transportation system; support federal actions to address harmful algal blooms; and protect the Great Lakes basin from invasive carp and other aquatic invasive species.

The priorities 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, Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, Great Lakes Business Network, and Lake Carriers’ Association.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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 (GLC) today released its 2023 federal priorities, urging the Biden administration and Congress to invest in projects and programs that will foster a more resilient Great Lakes region, increase economic opportunity, and equitably improve the health of important ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes basin. 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. Great Lakes Day will be held in-person in Washington, D.C. for the first time since March 2020.

“The Great Lakes Commission is grateful that our federal partners understand the incredible importance of the Great Lakes to our nation,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “We look forward to meeting once again in D.C. to celebrate the lakes and call for ongoing investment to strengthen the economic and environmental health of the basin.”

In FY 2024, the GLC urges Congress and the Biden administration to: fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; comprehensively address the causes of harmful algal blooms; strengthen the Great Lakes Navigation System; build a resilient Great Lakes basin; protect against invasive species; ensure equitable access to clean and safe water; and support integrated binational science and data collection. The GLC also encourages Congress to enact a new, five-year Farm Bill that builds upon policies that promote agricultural growth, sustainability, resilience, and conservation; and provide dedicated, sustainable funding to the GLC to enhance regional collaboration between the states and the federal government.

The GLC will meet with members of Congress and the federal government throughout the week to discuss these priorities. The GLC organizes Great Lakes Day annually to bring together the states, members of Congress and the federal government to raise awareness of Great Lakes issues. For more information on the GLC and its work, visit www.glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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.

The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals for the 2023 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) grant program.

The Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program has provided grants to reduce nutrients and sediments entering the Great Lakes for more than 30 years. This year’s program will continue to help local partners take action to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds and eroding shorelines and streambanks in the Great Lakes basin.

Through the program, nonfederal units of government, tribes, and incorporated nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive grants for up to $300,000, supporting work over a period of up to four years. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for activities associated with one of the following project types: agricultural non-point, or shoreline and streambanks.

Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the eight Great Lakes states, plus federal partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in summer 2023. Selected projects would begin work not later than October 1, 2023.

The Great Lakes Commission has managed the GLSNRP for more than 30 years with funding support through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative since 2010. Funded projects support progress toward the achievement of GLRI Action Plan objectives and goals. The program is a partnership with NRCS, U.S. EPA, and the Great Lakes states. Please visit www.nutrientreduction.org for more information. 

The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 21, 2023. A webinar for applicants will be offered on March 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss funding priorities and the application process, receive tips for submitting competitive proposals, and ask questions of Great Lakes Commission staff. Information to join the webinar is below. For more information, please contact Connor Roessler at croessler@glc.org or 734-396-6085.

To register for the webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/3EaAEt5

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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.

The Great Lakes Commission approved “Approaches for Improving Great Lakes Water Infrastructure: A Blueprint,” with the goal of catalyzing action to address the region’s water infrastructure needs.

Now, the agency is launching a dynamic map sharing how Great Lakes communities are putting the blueprint into action. The map identifies utilities, state agencies, and other organizations that are implementing the approaches identified in the blueprint. It displays a description of each approach (or tactic), a point of contact, and a link for more information.

The GLC is seeking additional contributions to the map demonstrating progress in meeting regional water infrastructure needs. If your organization is implementing water infrastructure improvements aligned with the blueprint in your portion of the Great Lakes basin, please reach out to James Polidori (jpolidori@glc.org) to include your work in the dynamic map.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), 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.