Great Lakes

Reiterates Cherry's belief that Great Lakes are critical to Michigan's economy

November 13, 2009 --
LANSING - Michigan Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. today called on the Assistant Secretary of the Army to take additional actions to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Recent reports from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicate that Asian Carp may be much closer than previously expected to the current electrical Barrier 2A, which was designed to keep the carp from entering the Great Lakes through the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal (CSSC).    » read more »

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued a statement applauding President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress for their support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The initiative, which was signed into law by President Obama on October 30, allocates $475 million to respond to a plan of action prepared by the Great Lakes states in cooperation with 16 federal agencies.

Funding is available for the most significant problems facing the Great Lakes, including invasive aquatic species, wildlife habitat restoration, non-point source pollution, contaminated sediment clean up, water quality monitoring, and beach monitoring/clean up, all issues that Lake Erie and Ohio have experienced.

Governor’s statement:    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced that yesterday, the House and Senate Conference Committee for the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill, “Approved an historic $475 million down payment for the restoration of the Great Lakes.” The legislation, which the House and Senate will soon vote on for final approval, would fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which was requested by the President and shepherded through Congress by Obey who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

Legislation also includes $2.1billion for clean water, $500,000 for Oakland-Macomb Interceptor

October 29, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.)- The House approved legislation today to provide $475 million for a new Great Lakes restoration effort. The funding, approved as part of the annual funding bill for the Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency, passed the House by a vote of 247 to 178. The Senate is expected to approve the measure in the near future, clearing the legislation for President Obama's signature.

“The Michigan Delegation has been fighting for years to win this kind of restoration money,” said Rep. Levin. “The difference this time is that we now have a President who cares about the Great Lakes."    » read more »

Federal Dollars Will Clean Up Great Lakes, Reduce Beach Closures, Boost Economic Development & Tourism

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the 2010 Interior Appropriations will include $475 million for President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up the Great Lakes and Rochester’s beaches and allow the area’s tourism and fishing industry to thrive.    » read more »

Federal Dollars Would Fight Invasive Species, Pollution And Contamination

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined with their Great Lakes colleagues this week to call for $475 million for the Great Lakes in the combined Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The Senate version of the legislation only included $400 million, whereas the house version has $475 million. Schumer and Gillibrand are urging the conference committee tasked with combining the bills to approve the higher number. New York shares roughly 700 miles of coastline with the Great Lakes.    » read more »

NWF and NRDC Help Notch a Win with Implications Throughout the Great Lakes

(June 1, 2009) -- A New York State Supreme Court Justice dismissed a challenge brought by shipping interests against the state’s tough new ballast water requirements, which are designed to limit the introduction of more invasive species into the Great Lakes.

Legal experts at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) hail the win as a huge victory for states in the region that have taken an aggressive stand to limit dumping of water containing biological pollution from ocean going vessels. Alien species have already cost the Great Lakes economy billions of dollars.    » read more »

April 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) welcomes the Earth Day announcement from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) aimed at installing the first freshwater offshore wind energy project in the world. NYPA President and CEO Richard M. Kessel released a Request for Expressions of Interest for projects of at least 120 megawatts (MW) in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

"This is a great sign for offshore wind energy in the U.S.," said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA. "As we seek to dramatically expand wind energy, both on- and offshore, it is vital that we commit to long-term stable policies such as the Renewable Electricity Standard to allow the market to reach its full potential and enable businesses to build new factories and create new jobs."    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $1.7 million in grants to protect and enhance Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The Governor awarded 37 grants that will be used by nonprofit organizations, as well as local, state, and tribal governments to assist with projects totaling nearly $4 million.

“The Great Lakes are an important economic, cultural and natural resource in Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle said. “Caring for Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is essential to the well-being of the state. The support to these local organizations will help us to protect our coastal resources. Because of their efforts, the integrity of our lakes will be maintained for future generations.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- "Mr. President, today my colleagues from the Great Lakes and I are introducing the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 in order to reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Legacy program has been a program that has delivered real results in the Great Lakes and has broad support.

Lighthouses on Lake Michigan: Photo by Luiz Castro (CC)    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Senator George Voinovich, R-Ohio, co-chairmen of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, today introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 to expand on legislation passed six years ago. The bill aims to clean up contaminated expanses in the Great Lakes known as “Areas of Concern” within 10 years.

Lake Michigan breakwater: Photo by Tom (CC)    » read more »

March 17, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that she joined a bipartisan coalition of Senators from Great Lakes states in urging the Senate leadership to support funding for several key programs to protect and preserve the Great Lakes.    » read more »

Bipartisan Trio of Senators Reject Funding Cuts to Great Lakes Programs

March 4, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is calling for greater protection for the Great Lakes from invasive species, decreasing water levels, and other problems.    » read more »

November 08, 2007 -- MILWAUKEE – Eight governors from Great Lakes states today called upon presidential candidates to make the protection of the Great Lakes a top priority. In a letter to all Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Governor Doyle of Wisconsin, Chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, challenged the presidential field to explain how they would support ongoing efforts to protect, preserve, and improve the Great Lakes.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined her fellow Great Lakes governors in calling on the current presidential candidates to support a variety of regional and state efforts designed to protect and preserve the Great Lakes. The message was delivered through a letter sent to each candidate that asked them to outline the plans for Great Lakes restoration and protection that their administration would implement if they are elected.    » read more »