Ann Arbor, Michigan – Organizations across the region will come together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the seventh annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, to be held June 30 through July 13, 2025. Volunteers will demonstrate to boaters 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 Indigenous, federal, state, and provincial agencies with the support of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and other partner organizations.

“The Great Lakes Commission is proud to continue coordinating the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz with our partners,” said GLC Executive Director Erika Jensen. “Invasive species threaten native species and the regional economy. Fish and wildlife cross jurisdictional boundaries, so we all need to work together to avoid spreading harmful species from one water body to another.”

For the fourth year, the Great Lakes Commission has also awarded more than $105,000 in grants to local organizations to conduct outreach to boaters this summer. This funding will be used by grantees to host local Landing Blitz events, expanding the overall reach of the initiative and supporting strategic education and outreach targeted to the recreational activities pathway of AIS introduction and spread.

Thirteen grants were awarded:

Funding for the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through a grant agreement between the Great Lakes Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information on the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, 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.

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 ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, an environmental treasure, and an economic engine now and into the future.

The agenda urges Congress and the Trump administration to: continue producing restoration results, including by appropriating no less than $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in FY 2026; provide clean drinking water to all; enhance the Great Lakes Navigation System; strengthen communities; protect people from persistent and emerging threats; and secure a prosperous future

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, Michigan – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released its 2025 agenda for the Great Lakes. It calls for continued strategic investment in the lakes, which hold 95% of America’s fresh surface water and provide drinking water for more than 47 million people.

“Restoring the Great Lakes means protecting drinking water for millions, as well as growing an $81 billion regional recreational economy and a nearly $51 billion maritime system,” said GLC chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “The Great Lakes Commission urges our federal partners to continue their investment in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and other programs that improve the region’s economy and environment, as every $1 spent restoring the lakes generates more than $3 in economic activity for the country.”

In 2025, the GLC urges Congress and the administration to: fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; fund the GLC to fulfill its unique role in the region; provide the cleanest and safest drinking water in the world; unlock the economic potential of the Great Lakes Navigation System; eliminate harmful algal blooms; defend against invasive species; and build a resilient Great Lakes basin.

The agenda is being shared in advance of next week’s 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., following the 2025 Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting. The GLC and Northeast-Midwest Institute organize 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 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 (RFP) for projects that would help improve Great Lakes water quality by reducing nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds and eroding shorelines and streams. Indigenous Nations, nonfederal units of government, and incorporated nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants for up to $300,000 through the 2025 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) grant program.

For 34 years, grants provided by GLSNRP have enabled local partners to reduce nutrients and sediments entering the Great Lakes. 2025 applicants are invited to submit proposals for activities associated with one of the following project types: agricultural nonpoint, or stream/shoreline. Grants awarded through GLSNRP may support work over a period of up to four years.

A webinar for potential applicants will be held on March 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Eastern on April 29, 2025 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 2025, with work to begin no later than October 1, 2025.

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 IV objectives and goals. This program is a partnership between NRCS, U.S. EPA, and the Great Lakes states. GLSNRP funding is subject to the availability of U.S. federal funding.

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 (RFP) to support in-person outreach to recreational boaters as part of 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 talk about how to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS at boating access sites across the region and why it’s an important endeavor. Units of government (Indigenous, state or local), lake associations, conservation groups, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education are invited to apply for grants for up to $10,000 to support outreach events during the 2025 Blitz period of June 30 – July 13.

The due date for grant applications is 5 p.m. Eastern on April 4, 2025. 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 30 – July 13.

This funding is intended to expand the reach of the Blitz at water bodies and access points that have not historically been included in previous Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz events. A general informational webinar for the RFP will be held on February 18 from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern. Registration for the webinar is available here.

For more information, please contact GLC Project Manager Theresa Gruninger at tgruninger@glc.org or 734-396-6073.

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.

Rochester, New York – At its Annual Meeting, held last week on the shores of Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) passed resolutions calling for reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and stronger protections against the introduction of invasive species.

“The Great Lakes Commission urges both federal governments to better protect the Great Lakes by taking action to restrict the import of high-risk species,” said GLC Chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Once established in the lakes, these species are extremely difficult to eradicate and costly to control. Additionally, we call on the U.S. Congress to pass the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which would reauthorize this incredibly successful program through FY 2031. Since 2010, the GLRI has provided more than $4 billion to fund more than 8,100 projects across the Great Lakes region which protect our freshwater resources.”

The Annual Meeting featured remarks from representatives of U.S. EPA Regions 2 and 5, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans. Great Lakes Commissioners also heard from expert panels on critical issues facing the lakes, including community watershed restoration, coastal resilience, and engaging youth in environmental stewardship.

At the meeting, the GLC re-elected its leadership: Chair Mertz, and Vice Chair Timothy Bruno, Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Interstate Water Resources Management, at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In advance of the meeting, GLC leadership planted two red maple trees at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. As a founding member of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Trees and Green Events initiatives, the GLC has committed to using sustainable practices at its meetings and supporting the initiative’s goal of planting 250 million trees in the Great Lakes basin by 2033.

The GLC will next convene in Washington, D.C. for its Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day on March 4-6, 2025. 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 $1.45 million in grants through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program to reduce the runoff of pollutants such as sediment and nutrients from entering into the Great Lakes and their tributaries.

“For more than three decades, grants under our Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program have supported local efforts to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution of our Great Lakes,” Timothy Bruno, vice chair of the GLC and Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Interstate Water Resources Management, at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. “Community efforts are critical to the lakes’ health. The Great Lakes Commission congratulates the 2024 grantees of this longstanding program and looks forward to their projects’ contribution to a healthier and more resilient 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. Since 2016, projects funded by this program have prevented more than 173,000 pounds of phosphorus and more than 337,000 tons of sediment from reaching the Great Lakes.

The 2024 projects continue to promote 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 $4.1 billion to fund more than 8,100 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 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 Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF) is initiating the first cycle of a new program that will improve Phragmites management across the Great Lakes basin and beyond. Through the PAMF Active Adaptive Management Program (AAMP), more than $239,000 will be awarded to support local organizations in implementing certain combinations of management actions on which PAMF is lacking data. PAMF will use the information gathered by participants to improve its guidance on management practices that are most likely to be effective in controlling invasive Phragmites.

Currently, invasive Phragmites are managed using a suite of approaches, including herbicide, cutting/crushing, flooding and burning. These actions are resource intensive and differ in effectiveness due to site-specific conditions and variations in implementation. The PAMF program utilizes a predictive model that incorporates participant data to continually ‘learn’ more about which management techniques are working against Phragmites in certain conditions and which are not. In turn, the PAMF model predicts optimal guidance for each site based on the most up-to-date data. This process repeats annually to optimize outcomes. Data provided to PAMF by the AAMP grantees will reduce the uncertainty surrounding management outcomes, increase the models predictive power, and improve regional best management practices.

“Nonnative Phragmites australis is one of the most aggressive plant species invading North America and is already well established in the Great Lakes basin,” said Timothy Bruno, vice chair of the Great Lakes Commission and Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Interstate Water Resources Management, at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The GLC provides backbone and administrative support to PAMF. “Its spread has negative impacts on wildlife, water levels and drainage, recreation and tourism and even public safety. The Active Adaptive Management Program will help expand and improve the management of Phragmites across our region.”

2024 is the first of at least two years that AAMP grants will be available for Phragmites management in Great Lakes states. Eligible grantees include tribal or U.S.-based local units of government, lake associations, watershed protection groups, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, colleges, and conservation groups.

Seventeen grants have been awarded so far in 2024:

Funding for the PAMF Active Adaptive Management Program is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through a grant agreement between the Great Lakes Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey. For more information on AAMP, visit the program’s website.

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 has released an updated Great Lakes Water Use Database website that is more secure and will make it easier for the public to access water use data. Upgrades to the site include: a streamlined, more intuitive process for water use data managers to report their jurisdictions’ data and metadata; an improved public-facing “create your own query” tool that will allow users to create charts based on their specific data selections; and enhanced security features to better protect data before it is published.

“More than 30 million people in the basin rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, jobs, industry and more,” said Loren Wobig, Great Lakes Commissioner and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s alternate on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council (Compact Council) and Designee on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body (Regional Body). “This new website will help regional decision-makers better manage our water resources responsibly for all the basin’s residents.”

“One of the key goals of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence water management compact and agreement was facilitating the exchange of data and strengthening the scientific information upon which decisions are made,” said Peter Johnson, Deputy Director of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP), the organization that serves as secretariat to the Compact Council and Regional Body. “This upgrade to the water use database is an important step in further advancing the Governors’ and Premiers’ water management priorities.”

For nearly 40 years, as part of the historic water agreements, the eight states and two provinces in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin have provided water use data to the regional water use database. The GLC compiles and summarizes these datasets into an annual report that is submitted to the Compact Council and Regional Body, which manage the agreements to sustainably manage Great Lakes water.

To view the new website, visit waterusedata.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, 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.