Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund

About this grant

The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund was created in 1996 to provide information and financial support to grassroots citizen efforts to protect and restore aquatic resources within the Great Lakes basin. Through networking, groups active on aquatic habitat issues exchange information, access technical assistance, participate in training programs and benefit from the support of their peers. A small grants program supports grassroots aquatic habitat protection projects throughout the basin. The organization also provides financial support for part-time network coordinators in each Great Lakes state and Ontario, as well as a coordinator working with indigenous communities.Multiyear funding will support activities that include maintaining and strengthening the network structure; providing technical and capacity-building consultation services to grassroots groups; sharing information that enables grassroots groups and citizens to effectively protect their local aquatic habitats; fostering communication among citizens and organizations across the basin; and administering effective programs. This includes a grant increase to support a comprehensive review of the project’s past accomplishments, as well as a planning process that refines the project’s long-term goals and anticipated outcomes.Since its inception, the program has provided approximately $525,000 to support the network hub coordinator function; and awarded nearly $480,000 to grassroots citizen initiatives.