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.
Thanks for joining us in D.C.!
Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day, held March 3-5 in Washington, D.C. Read more about the meeting 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.
New RFPs: AIS Landing Blitz, GLSNRP
The GLC recently released two requests for proposals (RFPs): Learn more about the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz RFP, and the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program RFP, on our news page.
The Advisor
The January 2026 edition of the Commission’s e-newsletter, The Advisor, includes an update on U.S. federal Great Lakes appropriations, news about our upcoming work to study the economic impacts of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and more.
New Great Lakes water use report
The 2024 Annual Report of the Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database shows that water withdrawals in the basin remained stable, with the vast majority of withdrawn water returned to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin. Read more here.
Michigan Supreme Court hears Line 5 review case as opponents challenge tunnel project approval
A key permit from state energy regulators approving Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project sat before the Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday as the justices heard two cases arguing the permit should be sent back to the Michigan Public Service Commission for further review....
Appeals court remands major Lake Erie case to trial court
A long and complicated court battle over how best to protect western Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms is able to proceed again. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, has upheld a decision to exclude a largely undefined group of industrial...
Great Lakes states face a data center governance gap
The rapid build-out of AI data centers across the Great Lakes basin is reshaping rural communities, straining fragile ecosystems, and forcing states to rethink energy and water policies. New guides have been released to help residents and lawmakers navigate the...
Request for Proposals: Economic Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions for Stormwater Management
Ann Arbor, Michigan — The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) is seeking proposals for an economic evaluation of the benefits of using nature-based solutions to manage stormwater in Great Lakes communities. The analysis will highlight case studies of projects across the...
Request for Proposals: Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework Small Grants
Ann Arbor, Michigan — The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals to advance the regional fight against invasive Phragmites, one of the most aggressive plant species invading North America. Invasive Phragmites is already well established in the...
Regional organizations release 2026 joint priorities for the Great Lakes
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....
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Get the latest Great Lakes Commission news and events in your inbox!
Sign up for our e-newsletter
Get the latest Great Lakes Commission news and events in your inbox!
GREAT LAKES EVENTS
For more events, visit the
Great Lakes Calendar
Ohio Nature-Based Shoreline Training
March 18 - March 192026 Lake Committee Meetings
March 23 - March 27IJC Public Input Webinar: Perspectives on Restoration in Great Lakes Communities
March 24