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Lakes Regional Water Use Database shows that water withdrawals in the basin remained stable, with the vast majority of withdrawn water returned to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin.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.
Record number of Great Lakes piping plover nests counted this summer
Officials have counted 90 nesting pairs of endangered Great Lakes piping plovers so far this summer. That's a record high after the endangered species' 1990 low point of only 12 nesting pairs counted in Michigan. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Scientists say Trump’s NOAA cuts would wipe out Great Lakes data used for weather, waves, and safety
A proposed Trump administration budget could significantly reduce federal science funding and threaten critical tools used by communities to track Great Lakes water quality, protect public health, and support local economies. Read the full story by The Cool Down.
Michigan island needs reliable power. Can Great Lakes waves provide it?
A group of University of Michigan researchers will test devices that convert wave energy into electricity off the shores of Beaver Island in Charlevoix, Michigan, this week, as part of an ongoing effort to improve power reliability for residents. Read the full story...
Great Lakes Commission to support sediment management efforts in the Great Lakes basin
Ann Arbor, Michigan — The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) 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. Over the next three years, the GLC will...
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...
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GREAT LAKES EVENTS
For more events, visit the
Great Lakes Calendar
The Sanctuary Presents: The Story of the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum
June 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pmProtected Waters Films and Filmmaker Q & A
July 10Aquatic Ecosystems Kids Workshop
July 11 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm