in Illinois
From 2009 through 2020, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested over $200 million in more than 250 projects in Illinois to restore habitat, fight invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, and reduce polluted runoff. Formerly industrialized sites like Northerly Island are being reclaimed as green spaces. Rare ravine ecosystems to the north of Chicago are being restored to filter runoff before it enters Lake Michigan. And polluted beaches like the one near North Point Marina are being restored for swimming once more.
Let your members of congress know they should take action to protect the Great Lakes! Contact your senators and representative and tell them:
- The Great Lakes are our most important source of fresh water, providing drinking water to 30 million people. We must continue our efforts to clean and restore them.
- Although we have made progress the lakes still face serious threats.
- We can’t afford to stop now. These projects to clean up our lakes will only get harder and more expensive the longer we wait.

Wildlife Corridor Established Along Lake Shore Drive
Migratory birds and butterflies have a safe place to stop over, thanks to the Burnham Wildlife Corridor. Invasive species have been removed and volunteers have planted thousands of native trees and shrubs in their place.