GLC visits Capitol Hill to urge support for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Great Lakes Commissioners from the U.S. and Canada took to Capitol Hill recently to urge Congress to defend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which is zeroed out in President Trump’s proposed budget. Commissioners encouraged elected officials to protect the bipartisan GLRI, which serves as the most important line of defense against Asian carp, helps to protect drinking water for 48 million people and accelerates cleanup of Great Lakes toxic hotspots.

Commissioners visited offices as part of the GLC 2017 Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day. At the meeting, the GLC passed a resolution urging the governments of Canada and the U.S. to pursue compatible federal ballast water treatment standards and enforcement mechanisms.

For more information on these events, visit our website. You can also find our 2017 legislative priorities, an interactive map of GLRI projects, factsheets on the impact of the GLRI on each Great Lakes state, and more on our meeting page. 

New videos highlight economic and environmental impact of GLRI work at Muskegon Lake, St. Marys River

The GLC and our partners at NOAA recently released videos highlighting the economic and environmental impact of work we are leading together in Muskegon, Michigan, and at the Little Rapids portion of the St. Marys River. The GLC and NOAA are working together to restore the Muskegon Lake and St. Marys River Areas of Concern (AOCs) — two Great Lakes “toxic hotspots.” The videos demonstrate how restoration work is enhancing quality of life for local and regional residents and businesses.

Click here to watch the videos.

GLC calls on U.S., Canada to rebuild critical Great Lakes water infrastructure

The GLC recently called for U.S. and Canadian leadership to rebuild and modernize aging water infrastructure in the Great Lakes region.

In a suite of comprehensive recommendations to both governments, we argued that the time is right to invest in infrastructure that provides safe drinking water to more than 48 million people, transports 200 million tons of freight each year, and supports a $5 trillion economy in the eight-state, two-province Great Lakes region.

Check out the Michigan Radio story or the Great Lakes Today story on our recommendations.

Request for proposals: Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program

We're pleased to announce that the request for proposals for the 2017 Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program grant program is now open. The due date for applications is 6:00 p.m. EDT on April 14, 2017.

For more information and to apply, click here.

Position available: Habitat Restoration Program Specialist

The GLC has an immediate opening for a Habitat Restoration Program Specialist who will report to the program managers for Coastal Conservation and Habitat Restoration and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control.

Visit our website for more info and to apply.

Save the Date: Join us this fall in Duluth for our 2017 Annual Meeting

Please save the date for our 2017 GLC Annual Meeting, which will be held September 19-20 in beautiful Duluth, Minnesota! 

More information will be posted on the meeting website as it becomes available.

Upcoming events

May 22-23: 2017 Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Dredging Team
Join the Great Lakes Dredging Team for its 2017 Annual Meeting, to be held at the Pier B Resort in Duluth, Minnesota.

June 20-June 22: Great Lakes ANS Panel Meeting
The next meeting of the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species is scheduled for June 20-22, 2017 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Details and logistical information is provided on the Great Lakes Panel webpage.