Appropriations

The economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region has an immense impact on the success of the nation at large. The GLWP program works to educate Congress on the importance of the region, and provides support for the need to continue or expand federal funding for key programs which benefit the region. Tracking the ebb and flow of federal funds to the region, facilitating the writing and distribution of appropriations letters to advance the region, and providing appropriations fact-sheets to aid congressional offices all serve to communicate the importance of Great Lakes federal funding, not just for the region but for the entire nation. Appropriations resources can be found here.

Water Quality

The abundance of safe, clean water is essential to the health and prosperity of the millions who inhabit the Great Lakes basin. Water quality crises in Flint, Michigan and Sebring, Ohio have demonstrated the challenge of overhauling drinking water infrastructure in the aging cities of the region and the immense cost to the health of those without access to lead and copper-free water. Harmful algal blooms–such as those suffered by Toledo, Ohio in 2014 and 2015–also pose a grave risk to safe drinking water, fisheries, and tourism.

Invasive Species Control

Invasive species such as Invasive Carp, Zebra Mussels, and Phragmites adversely affect the environmental health and economic output of the Great Lakes region. Research and methods preventing the introduction of invasive species and eliminating established invaders is critical to containing the damage done to the region. The GLWP relays the latest breakthroughs and successes in these efforts to Congress, helping to further funds for research into invasive species and projects which stymie their spread.

Water Infrastructure and Transportation

Sturdy and well-maintained networks of dams, bridges, locks, and fish barriers are essential to keeping the region a focal point of maritime trade. The GLWP works to communicate the importance of trade in the region to the nation’s economy in order to secure funds to maintain, improve, and expand infrastructure throughout the Great Lakes.

Environmental Restoration and Cleanup

The Great Lakes are the center of an enormously beneficial network of maritime trade and agricultural interests, however these virtues need to be balanced with funding to research and prevent damage to the environment. The dumping of toxic chemicals into Great Lakes waterways, agricultural run-off, and the destruction of essential wetlands ecosystems are all to the detriment of the region’s economic and environmental vibrancy. The GLWP is committed to studying effective programs to conserve and restore Great Lakes environments and to expand funding for these programs at the federal level–the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative being a highly successful example.