Before closing out 2024, we want to take some time to celebrate some of the clean water wins this past year. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is grateful for our partners across the eight-state Great Lakes region and these successes wouldn’t have been possible without their continual efforts; thank you, all!

Improvements to the downtown Lakewalk in Duluth, Minnesota, are increasing climate resiliency, public safety, and accessibility, along the Lake Superior coastline.

Restoring natural areas with native plants will help the city of Grand Marais absorb storm water and reduce flooding and runoff pollution into Lake Superior.

The St. Louis River is known as an “Area of Concern” (AOC)–one the most environmentally degraded areas in the Great Lakes region. Cleanup is estimated to be completed by 2030 as a result of a funding influx from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. To learn more about the importance of St. Louis River AOC cleanup work in his area of the river—Munger Landing—we spoke to Mike Casey, a local advocate.

Capping contaminated soil in the St. Louis River and harbor to Lake Superior prevents toxic pollution from spreading and harming fish, wildlife, and people.

Constructing a wetland retention basin in Superior’s central business district is reducing damaging floods and the flow of pollutants into Lake Superior.

Stabilizing and restoring Knowlton Creek has reduced erosion and sediment pollution, improved brook trout habitat, and enhanced outdoor recreation.

Planting shoreline vegetation, rain gardens, and tree trenches at Park Point’s is reducing stormwater runoff and improving public safety and beach health.