Celebrating Success & Maximizing Momentum

Mike Molnar: Conserve ~Enlarge

Dear Friends,
We have much to celebrate! Our collective advocacy speaking out for our Great Lakes is advancing the Great Lake restoration and protection agenda. While there is much to do, it is important to reflect upon how far we've come since the release of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement in December 2005.

The Compact is now law, setting a floor to protect the sheer quantity of America's freshwater wonder, through banning diversions, limiting consumptive uses, and requiring water conservation. While we have the framework, the real work to secure adequate protections is only just now beginning. New York is now accepting comments on its draft report on recommendations for implementing the Compact until August 15, 2009. Your voice is sorely needed in this process, get involved and learn more here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/56095.html

Federally, we are successfully flexing our regional political muscles to advance protection and restoration of our amazing freshwater ecosystem. President Obama is keeping his campaign promise to the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is advancing through Congress. Fulfilling another campaign promise, President Obama named the Great Lakes' own Cam Davis to coordinate federal Great Lakes programs.

We all know our local communities' economic struggles. The Great Lakes and our communities will benefit from the influx of federal funding to finance key restoration and protection initiatives. Projects to clean up the legacy of toxic contamination dotting our shores or to control erosion and promote healthy fish and wildlife habitat. The Brookings Institution estimated that a $26 billion Great Lakes restoration investment would return over $80 billion regional benefits. The House of Representative approved the requested $475 million while the Senate appropriations committee approved $400 million. The full Senate is expected to vote shortly on the full appropriation. Please take a moment and contact your Senator to express your support for full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The EPA is moving forward with implementing the restoration initiative and is beginning a basin tour tomorrow, stopping in 8 cities in the next weeks to hear from you on implementing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in short term and in the coming years. The EPA has released their provisional work plan for implementing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, once appropriated by Congress. I encourage you all to attend the EPA meetings to demonstrate the broad based public support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, champion local restoration initiatives and underscore the economic and ecological benefits to our local community and the entire region. Meetings will be held:
• July 21: Milwaukee, WI (5-7pm);
• July 22: Chicago, IL (6-8pm);
• July 23: Merillville, IN (5-7pm);
• July 27: Cleveland, OH (6-8pm);
• July 28: Erie, PA (6-8pm);
• July 29: Rochester, NY (5-7pm);
• August 3: Lansing, MI (5-7pm);
• August 4: Duluth, MN (4-6pm).

Thank you,
Dereth