Collaborating to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes

About this grant

The National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center, based in Michigan and serving the states and provinces of the region, is a leader in engaging partners to work toward protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. The grantee leverages policy, legal, communications, education and scientific expertise to support sound policies and leads several coalitions representing conservation, business, tribal and urban constituencies. With previous support from the Mott Foundation, the grantee has led a coalition in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program that cleans up and restores the lakes. The grantee has also advanced efforts to thwart non-native carp and other invasive species, has engaged community groups to ensure that drinking water is affordable and protected from dangerous chemicals and has sought to protect the lakes from an aging pipeline carrying petroleum under the lakes. With renewed support, the National Wildlife Federation will lead coalitions that seek to prevent invasive species from spreading, prevent pollution from nutrients and dangerous chemicals, ensure affordable drinking water, protect the lakes from resource extraction and restore habitat and water quality that has been damaged in the past.