The Great Lakes are a natural wonder of the world that holds one-fifth of the world’s fresh water supply. Comprising over 700 miles of New York’s shoreline, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence Seaway hold the key to our economic health, recreation, and irreplaceable family experiences. The Great Lakes supply millions of New Yorkers with their drinking water, provide habitat for wildlife, and support billion dollar industries such as tourism and fishing.
Threats to the Great Lakes Ecosystem
Despite progress to protect and restore the Great Lakes since the adoption of the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes remain threatened by pollution, invasive species and habitat destruction. New York is dependent upon a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem, yet inaction continues and signs of decline are apparent. Problems associated with the Great Lakes include, but are not limited to:
- Lake Erie, once a cleanup success story, is now experiencing depleted dissolved oxygen levels in late summer, creating a massive “dead zone” that cannot sustain life.
- Aquatic invasive species continue to enter the Great Lakes at a rate of one every eight months, adding to the more than 185 already causing serious economic and environmental problems.
- In 1987, the US and Canada committed to restoring the toxic hot spots of the Great Lakes basin, known as Areas of Concern (AOCs). Toxic pollution persists in the Great Lakes; New York has issued a lake wide fish advisory consumption warning for several fish species due to PCB, Dioxin, and Mirex (an insecticide and flame retardant) contamination. Only one of the six AOCs listed in NYS has been de-listed.
- 84% of New York’s Great Lakes waters do not support their designated uses, such as fishing and swimming.
It is time to implement manageable solutions to these problems!
A Blueprint for Action
An action plan, crafted by an unprecedented team of citizens, industry leaders, federal agency officials, Great Lakes governors and mayors, Native American Tribes, environmental and conservation groups, and other stakeholders throughout the Great Lakes basin, was released in December of 2005. It outlines the projects and programs needed to protect and restore the Great Lakes. This comprehensive blueprint was developed as part of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration established by President Bush and addresses many of the most serious problems facing the Great Lakes.
Once the comprehensive plan is fully funded and implemented, it will provide significant benefits to the Great Lakes ecosystem. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Improving drinking water quality;
- Restoring wildlife habitat and wetlands;
- Modernizing municipal sewers;
- Cleaning up toxic hotspots; and
- Halting the introduction of aquatic invasive species
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
In 2009, President Obama proposed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a $475 million investment in Great Lakes protection and restoration. This monumental investment is a critical "down payment" towards the comprehensive GLRC restoration plan. The GLRI appropriation was approved by Congress for the FY 2010 federal budget, and called for aggressive efforts to address five priorities:
- Cleaning up toxic hot spots around the Great Lakes
- Combating invasive species
- Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff
- Restoring wetlands and other habitats
- Accountability and working with strategic partners on outreach
Congress Must Continue the Progress
Since the original $475 million appropriation in 2010, the GLRI has been funded at $300 million in both FY 2011 and FY 2012, despite pressure from some members of Congress to cut it further. Due to this continued investment, the GLRI is producing significant results for the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. The GLRI has funded more than 70 restoration projects in New York State alone.
President Obama has once again proposed to fund the GLRI at $300 million in the FY 2013 federal budget. Congress must continue to support this essential program to protect and restore the Great Lakes, and support funding the GLRI at $300 million in FY 2013!
How you can help:
Email your U.S. senators and representative in the U.S. House. Urge them to support funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $300 million in the FY 2013 budget.
Email Tips:
- Be sure to include your name and address in your email.
- Tell your elected officials why protecting and restoring the Great Lakes are important to you.
- Urge them to support funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $300 million in the FY 2013 budget.
- Ask for a response, informing you of their position on the issue.
Email:
In New York:
Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand
Find and email your representative in the U.S. House
In Connecticut:
Senator Lieberman and Senator Blumenthal
Find and email your representative in the U.S. House
CCE is a member of the Healing Our WatersSM Great Lakes Coalition. Established in 2005, the coalition’s goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Led by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Parks Conservation Association, the coalition represents millions of residents in the Great Lakes region. For more information, visit www.HealthyLakes.org.
Review the final GLRC action plan
Updated by bsmith 1/20/11