Our Work
Here’s some of the work we’re doing to ensure a healthy environment, strong economy and high quality of life for current and future generations.
Register now to join us in Toronto!
Online registration is now open for the 2026 Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting, to be held October 6-8 in Toronto, Ontario. Registration closes at 5 p.m. Eastern on September 28. Learn more and register here!
2026 GLC Federal Priorities for the Great Lakes
The GLC released its 2026 agenda for the Great Lakes, calling 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. Read our priorities and download state-specific fact sheets here.
Great Lakes Investment Tracker
The Great Lakes Investment Tracker is an interactive mapping application developed by the GLC to showcase federally-funded projects in Great Lakes states. Visit the tracker to learn more about investments in the region.
8th Annual AIS Landing Blitz
Organizations across the region came together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) for the eighth annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, June 29 through July 12, 2026. Read more about the Landing Blitz here.
The Advisor
The April 2026 edition of the Commission’s e-newsletter, The Advisor, includes an overview of the recent GLC Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day events in Washington, D.C., updates on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, and Commission staff and project updates. Read more and sign up for the Advisor here.
Supporting sediment management efforts
The Great Lakes Commission is launching a new project to explore the management of sediment in the Great Lakes, and the role it plays in restoration, coastal resilience, and maritime transportation. Read more about the new project here.
Wisconsin’s first confirmed sighting of a rare loon found near Douglas County
An angler reported the first sighting of a rare, yellow-billed loon in Wisconsin waters. The species is rarely spotted outside of the Arctic at this time of year. Read the full story by the Wisconsin Public Radio.
As microplastics pollute every corner of the Great Lakes, scientists push governments to combat threat
Long-running research at the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario is geared toward persuading leaders in the United States and Canada to combat the growing, unchecked threat of microplastics to the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for 40 million people. Read...
Lake sturgeon to be released in Scioto River, other Ohio water ways
Wildlife officials will be releasing lake sturgeon into several Ohio rivers in the upcoming months, but it will take time to see if efforts are successful for these long-lived creatures. Read the full story by the Columbus Dispatch.
GLC and National Sea Grant Law Center launch new database to help prevent online sales of invasive species
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) has launched a new online resource that allows users to quickly check state and federal regulations before buying or selling aquatic plants and animals online, helping ensure compliance with applicable laws while...
Great Lakes states and provinces to host eighth annual Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz
Ann Arbor, Michigan — Organizations across the region will come together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the eighth annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, to be held June 29 through July 12, 2026. Volunteers will engage with boaters to...
The Advisor E-Newsletter: April 2026
The April 2026 edition of the Commission’s e-newsletter, The Advisor, includes an overview of the recent GLC Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day events in Washington, D.C., updates on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, and Commission staff and project up
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GREAT LAKES EVENTS
For more events, visit the
Great Lakes Calendar
American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
August 30 - September 32026 Michigan Sustainability Conference
September 9 - September 102026 Lakebed 2030 Conference
September 15 - September 17