- Program Environment
- Program Area Addressing the Freshwater Challenge
- Grant Amount $329,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2006–December 31, 2007
- Location Reston, VA, United States
- Geographic Focus Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
About this grant
According to a recent study, the Great Lakes ecosystem is rapidly deteriorating to the point that irreversible damage may result. Water quality stressors, such as toxins, invasive species and polluted runoff are among the chief causes.This grant will enable the National Wildlife Federation to work with partners across the Great Lakes basin to address these threats by making use of the Clean Water Act and related policies. Activities will include monitoring implementation of existing water quality standards; developing standards for uncontrolled pollutants; and reducing the impact of runoff pollution by protecting high quality wetlands.During the past two years, the federation worked to implement the Clean Water Act in the Great Lakes basin, with a particular emphasis on the control of toxic discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and other point sources. This work has included ensuring that states do not weaken water quality standards for mercury, a potent neurotoxin; closing loopholes in state environmental programs that otherwise would allow excessive discharges of water pollution; and improving individual discharge permits in the Lake Superior basin.