ANN ARBOR, MI – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released a new action plan to guide the region’s efforts to make the Great Lakes more resilient to the effects of climate change. The Action Plan for a Resilient Great Lakes Basin helps to prioritize regional efforts and forms a roadmap to advance climate resilience in the Great Lakes.

“The impacts of climate change are already affecting the Great Lakes region,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “Increased variability of lake levels, more intense storm events, and more frequent flooding are adding to challenges faced by communities and the infrastructure that supports them. This action plan will help guide our work to foster climate resiliency.”

Changes in climate, increased variability of lake levels, and other changing conditions continue to affect the people, places, economy, and environment of the Great Lakes basin. The effects of these changes include increased risks to existing water resource quality and supply, agriculture, maritime navigation, infrastructure, biological organisms, shorelines and coastal zones, and existing restoration efforts.

The action plan was developed by the GLC Standing Committee on Climate Resilience, which includes representatives of local, state, provincial and federal governments, as well as the partners from the maritime and nonprofit sectors. The action plan leverages existing regional efforts and supports collaboration among jurisdictions to promote shared learning and resources, and to create strategic partnerships that accelerate efforts for a more resilient and adaptive Great Lakes basin and ensure that the waters of the Great Lakes are fishable, swimmable, and drinkable for everyone in the region.

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) applauds action by the U.S. Congress to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, which funds the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2023. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation before the end of the year.

The final appropriations package funds programs critical to the Great Lakes region, including $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, $3 million to continue the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, $2.3 billion for operation and maintenance of the maritime navigation system, $212 million for port infrastructure projects, and $2.76 billion for water infrastructure through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. It also includes $3 million for the GLC to enhance regional collaboration between the states and the federal government. This is the first time the GLC has received a direct appropriation from the federal government.

“Congress is investing in important programs to advance our goals of a healthy and thriving Great Lakes region,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “The GLC appreciates the Great Lakes congressional delegation for funding these important programs. We look forward to utilizing the new funding for the GLC to expand state-federal collaboration, enhance regional coordination, and accelerate progress on priorities related to restoration, navigation, and resiliency.”

The GLC advocates on behalf of the Great Lakes states and provinces for policies and investments that improve the ecosystems, economies, and communities of the Great Lakes basin. Along with its regional partners, the GLC has been on the forefront of efforts to include Great Lakes programs in legislative activities.

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) applauds action by the U.S. Congress to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2022, which also included the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and the Coast Guard Authorization Act. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation this week.

This legislation addresses several critical GLC priorities, including an update to the authorization for the new Soo Lock, an increase in the federal cost share for the invasive carp barrier at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, important investments in Great Lakes icebreaking capacity, and an update to the 2007 economic impact study of recreational boating on the Great Lakes which was co-authored by the GLC. 

“Congress again demonstrated its support for improving Great Lakes navigation, protecting against invasive species, and understanding the economic importance of recreation to our region,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “The GLC appreciates the Great Lakes congressional delegation for its leadership on these issues, and we look forward to working with them in the next session to keep building a strong and resilient Great Lakes basin.”

The GLC advocates on behalf of the Great Lakes states and provinces for policies and investments that improve the ecosystems, economies, and communities of the Great Lakes basin. Along with its regional partners, the GLC has been on the forefront of efforts to include Great Lakes programs in legislative activities.

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 Invasive Mussel Collaborative (IMC) today announced the release of a new tool to help identify priority Great Lakes basin sites for implementing experimental invasive mussel control. Numerous entities, including government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and private industry, have spent more than 30 years researching zebra and quagga mussels and undertaking efforts to prevent and control their spread. The IMC’s Great Lakes Experimental Mussel Suppression Site Screening Tool (GLEMST) allows users to compare potential locations for applied research and management activities by reviewing data that includes fish spawning and nursery habitat, native mussel habitat, water intake infrastructure, threatened and endangered fish species, and distribution of nuisance algae.

“The IMC’s new tool will help scientists and managers determine the best possible locations in the Great Lakes basin for testing new technologies to control invasive mussels,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the Great Lakes Commission, which coordinates the IMC with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “This is the second decision-support toolreleased this year by the IMC to aid in the fight against invasive mussels, which continue to cause significant damage to our Great Lakes by outcompeting native species, clogging water intakes for power and drinking water supply, and contributing to the growth of nuisance algae.”

The Great Lakes Experimental Mussel Suppression Site Screening Tool was developed by the IMC’s Coastal Site Priorities Work Group, led by Jeff Tyson of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and Lizhu Wang of the International Joint Commission. The IMC was established in 2015 to share information, identify regional research and management priorities and advance scientifically sound technologies for invasive mussel control. The IMC is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey. Learn more about the IMC and its work online.   

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair 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, Mich. –

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today launched a new resource to track the region’s progress on efforts to protect drinking water. Through Blue Accounting, decision-makers and stakeholders can better understand the status of ongoing work to implement source water protection plans, reduce lead in drinking water, and meet treatment requirements for water leaving community water supplies.

“Ensuring people have access to safe drinking water is one of the most important roles played by our governments,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “Old lead lateral water supply lines, so-called forever chemicals like PFAS and excess nutrients like nitrates that seep into our private drinking water wells, are just a few of the many ways that the water coming from our taps can be contaminated. In partnership with our expert work group, the Great Lakes Commission is excited to use data to help answer the critical question of how we are doing when it comes to protecting drinking water in the Great Lakes basin.”

The new content was developed in collaboration with a drinking water work group that includes representatives of state, provincial and federal governments, as well as the academic and nonprofit sectors. Through Blue Accounting, work groups identify available data on specific issues, share information about current efforts, and help to translate those pieces into the information the region’s leaders need when making decisions that impact the Great Lakes and people in the basin. Blue Accounting currently also tracks regional efforts to reduce harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and stop aquatic invasive species, and work is underway to track progress to build climate resiliency across the Great Lakes basin.

Development of this new resource was supported by the Joyce Foundation. Blue Accounting has also received support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contributed significant resources and expertise to Blue Accounting’s development.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released a video highlighting its work to restore a former confined disposal site along the Maumee River in Ohio. The site, known as Penn 7, was used in the 1970s for disposal of silt dredged from the Maumee’s shipping channel. A partnership led by the GLC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) restored more than 15 acres of wetland, improved nearly 60 acres of habitat, and created a water-control structure to better connect the site with the Maumee River.

“The Penn 7 restoration has increased opportunities for birding and fishing, created a downtown green space, and improved water quality and ecosystem health in the Toledo area,” said Mary Mertz, vice chair of the GLC and director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “We are thrilled that completion of this project moves the Maumee River one step closer to being delisted as a Great Lakes Area of Concern.”

The Maumee River is one of 43 Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes basin. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act accelerated the progress of delisting AOCs with an unprecedented investment of $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is revitalizing Toledo and areas across the Great Lakes,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, co-chair of the U.S. House Great Lakes Task Force. “Not only has this Maumee River restoration protected our cherished natural resources, but it is also protecting water quality in Toledo and will increase tourism, birding and fishing opportunities in the region.”

The Penn 7 restoration is one of 74 habitat restoration projects led by the GLC and NOAA in the Great Lakes basin since 2008. A ribbon-cutting celebration for the site was held earlier this summer. The video, produced by Great Lakes Outreach Media, reviews prior conditions of the site and restoration methods that were implemented.

For more information, visit https://www.glc.org/work/aocs/maumee.

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.

Erie, Pa. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) passed resolutions calling for increased icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes basin and celebrating the 50th anniversaries of the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement at its 2022 Annual Meeting, held this week in Erie, Pennsylvania. The GLC also approved a blueprint sharing approaches for improving water infrastructure improvements in the basin.

“The Great Lakes Commission is continuing its work on critical Great Lakes issues, including calling on lawmakers to fund a new heavy icebreaker to protect the region’s $6 trillion economy during winter months, and approving a plan to improve water infrastructure in the basin,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs, of Wisconsin. “Thanks to our commissioners, observers, and partners for joining us in Erie this week.”

During the meeting, the GLC heard remarks from U.S. Water Alliance CEO Mami Hara, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer, and Erie Mayor Joe Schember. The GLC convened expert panels on ensuring access to safe drinking waters, decarbonization in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Great Lakes cruise tourism and water use and demand. The GLC also unanimously reelected Ambs, and its vice chair, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mary Mertz. In advance of the meeting, Great Lakes Commissioners and guests visited Erie Water Works’ Chestnut Street pumping station on the shore of Presque Isle Bay, and the Erie Maritime Museum, which hosts the historic US Brig Niagara.

The GLC will next meet in Washington, D.C., for the annual Great Lakes Day Congressional Breakfast Reception on March 9, 2023, and in Chicago for its Semiannual Meeting on May 23-25, 2023.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced today that it will award more than $1.2 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.

“The Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program continues to assist communities across the Great Lakes basin as they improve water quality and tackle pollution,” said Todd L. Ambs, chair of the Great Lakes Commission. “The Great Lakes Commission is proud to partner with these local project leads through this unique program. Throughout its three decade history, projects with the GLSNRP have prevented millions of pounds of phosphorus and tons of sediment from reaching the Great Lakes. We are looking forward to seeing this new cohort of 2022 grantees work toward a healthier Great Lakes.”

Each year, the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program provides competitive grants to local, state and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to install erosion and nutrient control practices in the Great Lakes basin. These practices help to prevent harmful algal blooms and dead zones. The program supports projects not typically funded by other federal cost-share programs, including innovative and unique practices. The 2022 projects generally focus on three approaches: long-term sediment and nutrient management through engagement with the agricultural community, streambank restoration, and green infrastructure.

The following grants have been awarded:

Funding for the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Since it was first funded in 2010, the GLRI has provided more than $4 billion to fund more than 6,000 projects across the Great Lakes region. The projects have cleaned up toxic hot spots, restored wetlands, helped to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and reduced harmful sediment and excess nutrients to the most significant surface, freshwater resource on the planet, our Great Lakes.

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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released a video highlighting work to restore natural shoreline at Brandenburg Park along Lake St. Clair in Michigan. A partnership led by the GLC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) replaced a failing metal sea wall with naturalized shoreline and offshore shoals to reduce wave energy and increase resiliency to varying water levels, improving fish and wildlife habitat and enhancing community access to the waterfront. Brandenburg Park’s pier is one of only a few in Metro Detroit from which individuals can fish and view wildlife on Lake St. Clair. Its public boat launch attracts boating and fishing enthusiasts from all over the county and throughout the region.

“Our Brandenburg Park project has improved fish and wildlife habitat, coastal resilience, and community access to Lake St. Clair,” said Todd Ambs, Chair of the Great Lakes Commission. “We’ve already seen an 84% increase in fish abundance and nearly 500% increase in water celery, an important native aquatic plant species. The GLC is proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners to implement exciting projects like this one across the region.”

Brandenburg Park is one of five projects that GLC and NOAA are leading in high priority coastal areas in the Great Lakes basin. A team including Chesterfield Township, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment, and OHM Advisors collaborated with GLC and NOAA to replace 740 linear feet of hardened shoreline, restore over three acres of nearshore habitat along Lake St. Clair and implement monitoring and outreach activities. The video, produced by Great Lakes Outreach Media, reviews prior conditions of the site, explains the restoration methods that were implemented, and highlights the use of long-term solutions to the basin-wide issue of shoreline erosion

For more information, visit https://www.glc.org/work/priorityareas/brandenburg.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released a video highlighting work to restore wetlands and reduce flooding at Powderhorn Lake near Chicago. The video shows how a collaborative effort between local, state, regional and federal organizations is restoring more than 100 acres of wetlands, connecting the lake to its northern neighbor, Wolf Lake, and ultimately Lake Michigan.

Powderhorn Lake is part of one of the few remaining examples of the dune and swale topography – sandy ridges interspersed with water pockets – that once characterized the Calumet Region along the south shore of Lake Michigan. The area is home to 100 bird species, 250 plant species and 2,500 insect species. In addition to reconnecting water flow to Lake Michigan, this project will allow fish passage between the lakes, install water control structures to help prevent future community flooding, and increase hemi-marsh habitat. This work aligns with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative objective of protecting and restoring communities of native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Great Lakes.

“The Great Lakes Commission is excited to showcase the collaboration among dedicated partners focused on improving Powderhorn Lake and its surrounding community, the region, and the Great Lakes,” said GLC Chair Todd Ambs, of Wisconsin. “We are proud to coordinate regional partnerships to restore and protect habitat, remediate degraded areas, and ensure resiliency to climate change across the basin.”

A team including Audubon Great Lakes, Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and engineers Hey & Associates, Inc. are collaborating with the GLC and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on this project.

For more information on the Powderhorn habitat reconnection project, visit www.glc.org/work/priorityareas/powderhorn.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the 2022 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program grant program.

For more than 30 years, the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program has provided grants to reduce nutrients and sediments from entering the Great Lakes. This year’s program will continue to help local partners take action to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds, reduce untreated stormwater runoff, and restore shoreline 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 $200,000, supporting work over a period of up to three years. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for activities associated with one of three project types: 1) agricultural nonpoint; 2) stormwater; and 3) Great Lakes shoreline or streambanks.

The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 22, 2022. 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 2022. Selected projects would begin work not later than October 1, 2022.

The Great Lakes Commission has managed the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program for more than three decades. Since 2010, the program has benefitted from funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 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. 

An informational webinar for applicants will be offered on March 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss funding priorities and the application process. To register for the webinar, visit https://bit.ly/3s746up.

For more information, please contact GLC Program Manager Nicole Zacharda at nzacharda@glc.org or 734-396-6084.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released its 2022 federal priorities, urging the Biden administration and Congress to invest in projects and programs that will protect the lakes and accelerate the national economy. 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. New this year, in collaboration with regional partners, the GLC will host a series of topical sessions on regional priorities throughout the week of February 28 through March 4, featuring remarks from state and local government officials and members of Congress.

“Harnessing the historic investments made in Great Lakes infrastructure, resiliency, and restoration through last year’s infrastructure legislation will address longstanding needs while creating jobs, fostering equity, protecting public health, and strengthening local communities,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “The Great Lakes Commission looks forward to working with our federal partners to continue building a strong and resilient Great Lakes region.”

In FY 2023, the GLC urges Congress and the Biden administration to: build a resilient Great Lakes basin; fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; protect against invasive species; expand efforts to address harmful algal blooms; strengthen the Great Lakes Navigation System; upgrade infrastructure to ensure equitable access to clean and safe water; support coordinated regional science and data collection; and fund the GLC to fulfill its unique role in the region.

The GLC will meet with members of Congress and the federal government throughout the week to share 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.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – In advance of Great Lakes Day events next week, a binational coalition of regional agencies, legislators, local communities, tribes, and business, maritime and environmental groups today released shared priorities for restoring the Great Lakes and supporting the region’s economy. Great Lakes Day, which will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 2, is an annual event that brings together regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. New this year, the regional partners will also host a series of virtual topical sessions on Great Lakes priorities throughout the week of February 28 through March 4.

“Our organizations support these priorities to accelerate progress, foster equity, build resilience, and ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, environmental treasure, and economic engine for North America,” the priorities read. “We commend the historic federal investment in Great Lakes restoration, water infrastructure, and climate resilience through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act… and appreciate Congress’ recognition that supplemental appropriations will accelerate progress for important restoration and infrastructure programs in addition to annual appropriations.”

The agenda urges Congress and the Biden administration to: appropriate no less than $400 million for the GLRI in FY 2023 in addition to the supplemental investment through the recent infrastructure legislation; invest in drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to tackle historic inequities; enhance the region’s resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate; develop coordinated regional science and workforce opportunities; strengthen Great Lakes ports and the maritime transportation system; support federal programs to address harmful algal blooms; and protect the Great Lakes basin from invasive carp and other aquatic invasive species.

The 2021 Great Lakes 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, the Lake Carriers’ Association, and the Great Lakes Business Network.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today launched a new website that allows Great Lakes decision-makers to track the region’s progress to reduce harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and stop aquatic invasive species.

The new site, www.blueaccounting.org, tracks efforts under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to reduce the runoff of phosphorus from priority watersheds to Lake Erie, as well as programs and policies that stop species introduction, detect new species, and control harmful invasive species across the region.

The new site follows years of GLC collaboration with work groups that include representatives of state, provincial and federal governments, as well as the academic, nonprofit and private sectors. The work groups identify available data on specific issues, share information about current efforts, and help to translate those pieces into the information the region’s leaders need when making decisions that impact Great Lakes restoration and protection.

“Connecting scientists and policy experts across sectors is one of the key values this new site is bringing to the region,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “It’s our goal to use data to answer the critical question of how we are doing when it comes to protecting and restoring our Great Lakes.”

“This website provides us an opportunity to showcase our regional success stories, and make the case for continued, strategic investments in the Great Lakes,” said GLC Executive Director Erika S. Jensen. “We believe this work, as it grows and evolves, will set new standards for regional collaboration and stewardship. Restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is a team effort, and we appreciate the support of our commissioners, work groups, and partners in launching this new website.”

Additional work is underway to track efforts to protect the region’s drinking water, enhance maritime transportation, and build climate resiliency. Related data products and tools developed on these topics during an earlier phase of Blue Accounting, remain available in the website’s data portal.

Blue Accounting has received generous support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also contributed significant resources and expertise to Blue Accounting’s development.

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, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today applauded Congress and the Biden Administration for enacting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bipartisan infrastructure legislation includes significant investments in key Great Lakes priorities, including $1 billion in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, $55 billion for drinking water and wastewater projects, $10 billion for action on emerging contaminants such as PFAS, $2.25 billion for port infrastructure development grants, and $1.9 billion for Army Corps of Engineers aquatic restoration projects.

“The Great Lakes Commission is grateful to our region’s bipartisan congressional delegation and President Biden for their work on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “This legislation represents historic investment in longstanding GLC priorities, including $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Since it was launched in 2010, the GLRI has funded more than 5,000 projects across the Great Lakes. These projects have cleaned up toxic contamination, restored wetlands, prevented the spread of aquatic invasive species and more. They also produce a substantial return on investment, with every dollar spent generating an estimated $3.35 in additional economic activity.”

In June, the GLC led a coalition of regional agencies, legislators, mayors, and business and environmental groups in urging Congressional leaders to include key Great Lakes priorities in the legislation. The GLC will continue to advocate for Great Lakes priorities in upcoming legislation, including investments in climate resiliency and Great Lakes icebreaking capacity. 

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin 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) passed resolutions expressing its priorities on climate resiliency, infrastructure investment, mercury contamination, and nutrient-driven algal blooms at its 2021 Annual Meeting, held online this week.

At the meeting, the GLC also elected a new chair and vice chair and signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to advance mutual goals for Great Lakes conservation, protection, sustainable use and development. The MOU recognizes the GLC’s unique ability to ensure that scientific information is brought to policymakers and managers in a timely and effective manner, as well as engage its state and provincial membership to identify priority areas of scientific inquiry.

“The Great Lakes Commission is committed to bringing its binational membership together to work on real solutions for the biggest issues facing the lakes, in collaboration with our partners at the federal, tribal, state, provincial and local level,” said outgoing GLC Chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel to Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “The resolutions passed today speak to the enthusiasm of our party states and provinces for this difficult but rewarding work. I am grateful to our commissioners, observers, and friends for their partnership with the GLC and contributions to our meeting.”

Commissioners elected Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as its chair and Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as its vice chair.

“I am excited to serve as chair after rejoining the Wisconsin delegation to the Great Lakes Commission two years ago,” said Ambs. “As a longtime advocate for the lakes, I know that the GLC is a terrific forum for collaboration. I am particularly looking forward to working with our commissioners and partners as we draft our strategic plan for 2022 – 2027.” 

During the meeting, the GLC assembled expert panels on nearshore nutrient reductions, mercury contamination in the Great Lakes ecosystem, and building resilient communities in the basin. Commissioners and guests also heard from the U.S. EPA’s Office of Water on water infrastructure and other priorities and USGS on its recently released Great Lakes Science Forum report, which assessed data gaps and science needs across the Great Lakes ecosystem. Commissioners also recognized Thomas Crane, the GLC’s long-serving deputy director, with an honorary resolution of recognition and appreciation for 35 years of service.

Video of meeting sessions will be available online in the near future. In March, the GLC will host annual Great Lakes Day events in Washington, D.C., and it will next convene in June for its semiannual meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin 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.

“The Great Lakes Commission is proud to help our state and local communities improve water quality through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program,” said Sharon M. Jackson, chair of the GLC and deputy general counsel to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “This year we are thrilled to celebrate 30 years of conservation efforts and partnerships through this unique program. Over the last three decades, these projects have prevented millions of pounds of phosphorus and tons of sediment from reaching the Great Lakes. Congratulations to the 2021 grantees; your work contributes to a healthy Great Lakes basin.”

Each year, the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program provides competitive grants to local, state and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to install erosion and nutrient control practices in the Great Lakes basin. These practices are important to preventing harmful algal blooms and dead zones. The program supports projects not typically funded by other federal cost-share programs, including innovative and unique practices. The 2021 projects generally focus on three approaches: long-term sediment and nutrient management through engagement with the agricultural community, streambank restoration, and green infrastructure.

The following grants have been awarded:

Funding for the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Since it was first funded in 2010, the GLRI has provided more than $4 billion to fund more than 5000 projects across the Great Lakes region. The projects have cleaned up toxic hot spots, restored wetlands, helped to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and reduced harmful sediment and excess nutrients to the most significant surface freshwater resource on the planet, the Great Lakes.

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

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is 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. – An action plan released today recommends building blocks for growing the Great Lakes basin economy by leveraging the economic potential of the region’s freshwater resources. Leaders from more than 50 Great Lakes agencies and organizations, convened by the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), developed the action plan as roadmap for collective action and a challenge to regional decision-makers to take strategic action.

The plan recommends actions to help the region: develop a cohesive vision and organizational structure; advance its water research, education, technology and innovation sectors; create a unique Great Lakes brand and strategically market the Great Lakes Blue Economy at the national and international levels; and establish and track shared goals and metrics for growing the regional economy.

“The Great Lakes are a critical driver for our regional economy,” said GLC Chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana. “The steps recommended in this action plan will help the region leverage our freshwater resources to attract and retain talent, increase jobs, and increase quality of life equitably throughout the Great Lakes basin.”

Funding for development of the action plan was provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the Wege Foundation, the Fund for Lake Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Office of the Great Lakes, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of the Great Lakes. Development of the action plan grew out of a 2018 study of the positive impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) on the region’s economy.

For more information and to read the action plan, please visit: bit.ly/BlueEconomyActionPlan.

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

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced today that it has named Erika Jensen to serve as its executive director. Jensen joined the GLC in 2006 and has served as interim executive director of the agency since August 2020. She will be the GLC’s first female executive director since it was established in 1955.

“The Great Lakes Commission is thrilled to name Erika Jensen as our next executive director,” said Chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana. “Under Erika’s steady leadership over the past year, the GLC has effectively navigated the coronavirus pandemic while seeing considerable success in achieving its policy and program priorities. Her longstanding commitment to the Great Lakes, strategic vision, and strong relationships in the region and on Capitol Hill make her the perfect person to lead the GLC into its next era.”

As executive director, Jensen will oversee the work of the GLC, a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect and promote the resiliency of the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. The eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin are represented on the GLC by a delegation of government-appointed commissioners.

“I’m honored to take on this role and grateful to our Board and Commissioners for entrusting me with the future of the Great Lakes Commission,” said Jensen. “I look forward to working with our member states and provinces to build on our past successes, solve challenging issues facing the basin, and ensure that the Great Lakes continue to support communities across the region now and into the future.”

In her previous role, Jensen oversaw the GLC’s aquatic invasive species prevention and control program and coordinated both the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Invasive Mussel Collaborative. She joined the GLC as a Sea Grant Fellow and has a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.

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