Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced that it will award $1.55 million in grants to reduce the runoff of sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants into the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program.

Each year, the program provides competitive grants to local, state and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to install erosion and nutrient control practices in the Great Lakes basin. The program supports projects not typically funded by other federal cost-share programs, allowing it to fund innovative and unique approaches. The 2020 projects generally focus on three approaches: long-term sediment and nutrient management through engagement with the agricultural community, streambank restoration, and green infrastructure.

“Bringing together national, state, and local partners is key to protecting the Great Lakes and the economies they support,” said Sharon M. Jackson, chair of the Great Lakes Commission and deputy general counsel to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “The Great Lakes Commission is proud to provide these grants to help organizations improve water quality in their communities.”

Funding for the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Over the past ten years the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program has awarded 126 grants totaling more than $21 million through the GLRI.

The following grants have been awarded:

• Colonial Heritage Water Quality Stormwater Improvements, Fort Wayne City Utilities – $200,000 (Indiana)
• Michigan State University Red Cedar River Restoration Phase II, Michigan State University – $150,538 (Michigan)
• Little Net River Phosphorous Reduction Project, Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District – $200,000 (Minnesota)
• Jaycox Creek Watershed Agricultural BMPs, Center for Environmental Initiatives – $198,293 (New York)
• Euclid Beach Park Green Infrastructure (Euclid Creek Watershed), Cleveland Metroparks – $200,000 (Ohio)
• Improving Phosphorus Placement by Composting Solid Manure, The Ohio State University – $74,600 (Ohio)
• Phase 2: Targeted Phosphorus and Sediment Reduction to North Fish Creek and Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior, Northland College – $199,726 (Wisconsin)
• Building Water Storage Capacity of the Lower Fox, Outagamie County Land Conservation – $199,268 (Wisconsin)
• Restoring Agricultural Land to Native Vegetation to Reduce Nutrient Loads in Little Menomonee and Milwaukee River Watersheds, Mequon Nature Preserve – $127,556 (Wisconsin)

More information about the projects is available at www.nutrientreduction.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Sharon M. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel for Governor Eric J. Holcomb of Indiana, is an interstate compact agency established under the Great Lakes Basin Compact of 1955. The Commission is authorized by 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 Basin and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, industry and nonprofit leaders and agency officials from eight states and two provinces. 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 office is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org.