Study to assess municipal investments in Great Lakes restoration

A yearlong effort to document cities’ investments in Great Lakes protection and restoration is being undertaken by the Great Lakes Commission in partnership with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

The project will seek to determine how much the region’s municipalities are investing in the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes on an annual basis. The 12-month effort will survey Great Lakes cities, towns and villages in order to document local contributions toward achieving the goals of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.

“Though Great Lakes restoration is often thought of as a federal and state concern, municipalities play a significant role as well,” said Dave Ullrich, executive director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. “Projects such as sewage treatment, storm water management, shoreline restoration and enhancement, beach maintenance and adjacent open space protection and waterfront revitalization all have impacts on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.”

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, vice chair of the Great Lakes Commission, played an important role in winning the support of the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, which is funding the initiative. The Joyce Foundation is a leading investor in Great Lakes restoration efforts.

“The Great Lakes are one of our planet's most precious natural resources,” said Lt. Gov. Quinn. “We have an obligation to preserve, protect and restore our freshwater assets. I salute the Great Lakes Commission's effort to document the significant local investment so many stakeholders are making.”

Tim Eder, executive director of the Great Lakes Commission, said the project will help facilitate informed decisionmaking and advocacy efforts in implementing the Great Lakes Strategic Restoration Plan developed through the Regional Collaboration.

“We hope the project will help advance the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration initiative by documenting that local communities are ready, willing and are already sharing in Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts,” Eder said.

He added that the Commission’s research will also document successful local projects that other Great Lakes communities may seek to emulate. The survey will also aid in evaluating the feasibility of a more comprehensive approach to identifying state government and private sector investments in Great Lakes protection and restoration.

The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration is a wide-ranging, cooperative effort to design and implement a strategy for the restoration, protection and sustainable use of the Great Lakes. Initiated by a presidential executive order in May 2004 and supported by the regions governors, the collaboration brought together a broad range of stakeholders, experts and decisionmakers to develop a strategy for the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. John Cherry (Mich.), is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors' appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.