Federal Investments are Producing Results in Michigan

From 2009 through 2017, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested $762 million in 880 projects in Michigan to restore habitat, fight invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, and reduce polluted runoff. Dams like the one on Wheeler Creek are being removed to allow fish to return to their old spawning grounds. Restoring wetlands around the state, like the one near Nayanquing Point, is reducing polluted runoff from reaching the Great Lakes. And sites polluted with toxins, such as the U.S. Steel site near Detroit are being cleaned up for fish and wildlife to return.

But Serious Threats Remain

Toxic pollutants threaten the health of Michiganders and the four Great Lakes that define our shores. Degraded habitat limits the reach of native species. Residents of several cities, including Flint and Detroit have unaffordable drinking water. And to make our drinking water and wastewater safe, Michigan needs $16.1 billion over the next 20 years to repair and replace crumbling infrastructure. We need the federal government to continue partnering with Michigan to invest in Great Lakes restoration and affordable water infrastructure to protect our lakes.

Contact Your Member of Congress

Let your members of congress know they should take action to protect the Great Lakes! Find out how to contact your senators and representative here. 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.