The Great Lakes hold 90% of North America’s fresh surface water and provide drinking water to more than 48 million people. The backbone of the region’s $4.5 trillion economy, the Lakes support fisheries, recreation, tourism and provide vital habitat to more than 350 bird species and countless other wildlife.

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The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was developed in 2010 to support and fund efforts to address the biggest threat to the Lakes. The program has made more than 2080 projects possible to address serious and persistent environmental challenges like coastal development, climate change, and destructive invasive species. GLRI projects support birds as well as our communities' health and economic vitality.

This summer, the US EPA and its federal partners are in the process of creating the next roadmap to continue the implementation of the GLRI – the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III. Despite the critical importance of restoring the Great Lakes, funding for GLRI has been threatened repeatedly in the last two years. Audubon has been working to make sure local policymakers know how important GLRI is to our network, and in the next planning phase, we want to make sure that birds and wildlife will be a priority in this Action Plan. Representatives from Audubon will be at each of the following meetings to strongly encourage the prioritization of restoration efforts that are designed to attract and sustain breeding marsh bird populations while also improving water quality of the Great Lakes and building resiliency to climate change. Projects that address this group of birds will address all of the focus areas in the Great Lakes Action Plan while creating more sustainable and thriving ecosystem for birds, wildlife and people throughout the Great Lakes. Join us to learn more about this process and to be an advocate for Great Lakes birds. 

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