News & Events

Conservation Groups Praise U.S. Senators for Action on Asian Carp, Invasive Species

Great Lakes senators urge Army Corps to study how to build physical barrier to prevent invasive species from traveling between Great Lakes, Mississippi River

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (May 24, 2010)-Conservation groups today praised U.S. senators for taking action to stop the movement of aquatic invasive species like the Asian carp between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. In a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Great Lakes senators are urging Congress to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study how to build a physical barrier between two of North America’s largest freshwater ecosystems.

The letter to Read More » »

Coalition Targets 5 Great Lakes Restoration Priority Areas

New Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition program to help local groups participate in federal $475 million restoration initiative

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April, 6 2010)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition today launched a new program to help local conservation partners participate in the federal $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The coalition will be providing $200,000 to help groups jump-start restoration projects in five priority areas—one on each of the Great Lakes.

“Our top priority is to ensure that Great Lakes restoration succeeds,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “After decades of abuse, there is an enormous Read More » »

Coalition Targets 5 Great Lakes Restoration Priority Areas

New Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition program to help local groups participate in federal $475 million restoration initiative

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April, 6 2010)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition today launched a new program to help local conservation partners participate in the federal $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The coalition will be providing $200,000 to help groups jump-start restoration projects in five priority areas—one on each of the Great Lakes.

Read a fact sheet on the new program here.

“Our top priority is to ensure that Great Lakes restoration succeeds,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director Read More » »

Great Lakes Day 2010 – February 23-24 – Washington, DC – Registration is now open!

With your help, the effort to restore the Great Lakes has made significant progress in the past year, which is why it is more important now than ever to attend Great Lakes Day, February 23-24 in Washington, D.C.!

President Obama Signs Great Lakes Restoration Initiative into Law

Historic Initiative Propels Restoration, Economic Recovery Forward

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—President Obama signed into law on Friday a historic $475 million initiative to address urgent threats to the Great Lakes—the largest supply of surface fresh water in the world.

“With one stroke of his pen, President Obama has propelled Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery forward,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This is a great day for anyone who cares about clean beaches, safe drinking water, and abundant fish and wildlife populations. This is a victory for the millions of people, businesses and communities which Read More » »

Great Lakes Restoration 2009 Conference Presentations

We are please to make available the presentations (as Adobe Acrobat PDF files) from the Healing Our Waters® – Great Lakes Coalition 5th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference.
 

Thursday, September 10

Fulfilling The Promise – The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Fulfilling the Promise: Securing Permanent Funding for Great Lakes Restoration

Protecting and Restoring Lake Superior

Lake Superior, Elizabeth LaPlante, US Environmental Protection Agency
Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan Identifying and Reducing Chemicals of Concern, Carri Lohse-Hanson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Lake Superior Habitat Status and Challenges, Ann McCammon Soltis, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

“Great Waters” – A National Approach to Restoration Read More » »

A Unique Moment in Time

It has been a “Hell of a year” for those advocating for Great Lakes restoration, with a constellation of great lakes leaders in the White House and Congress, we are looking at a very promising situation to achieve our goal of a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem.

 “This really is a unique moment in time and it is our moment and we need to celebrate and move forward,” HOW Co-Chair Andy Buchsbaum said to nearly 300 people crowding the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the Healing Our Waters Coalition.

“The Success we have had so far Read More » »

Great Expectations

The Healing Our Waters Coalition is coming together in Duluth, Minn. for its fifth annual conference amid great expectations for reaching our restoration goals. The federal spigot is finally flowing into the Great Lakes and we need to develop strategies to ensure the money is well spent on proven Great Lakes restoration programs. The federal investment couldn’t come at a better time for the region’s economy.

The HOW meeting on the shores of Lake Superior is drawing attention from far away Washington as can be Read More » »

The State of the Lakes: Still a Bummer

A new report by the US and Canadian Environmental Agencies finds that the Great Lakes ecosystem continues on a rapid decline due to toxic pollution and invasive species and poor sewage management. And don’t forget, all this is happening within the context of climate change – ARGH!

“State of the Great Lakes 2009,” released by the U.S. EPA and Environment Canada, says the overall health of the Great Lakes ecosystem as “mixed” and that means the lakes are still degrading but there is some good news: The prevention of toxic pollution has improved. While that is great, the slow Read More » »

House Approves $475M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The effort to restore the Great Lakes advanced in the U.S. Congress, as the House of Representatives today approved $475 million to fund a new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative first proposed in President Obama’s budget.