New Funding for Great Lakes National Parks
The National Parks of the Great Lakes region are among the beneficiaries of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an unprecedented federal investment in restoring the Great Lakes. NPCA worked with many partners to ensure that this funding—$475 million—will support focused, coordinated efforts to improve Great Lakes water quality and the condition of the lands along their shores. GLRI projects at Apostle Islands, Indiana Dunes, Pictured Rocks, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores; Cuyahoga Valley, Isle Royale, and Voyageurs National Parks; Grand Portage National Monument; Keweenaw National Historic Park; Mississippi National River and Recreation Area; Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial; and, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway include:
- Removing invasive plants.
- Monitoring mercury, lead, and DDT annually.
- Assessing aquatic habitat, water quality, and ecological conditions.
- Restoring areas contaminated by previous land uses.
- Removing or re-designing dams, docks, and similar structures that obstruct the natural water flow in streams and coastlines.
- Preventing damage to rare plant and animals caused by overabundant wildlife.
- Promoting natural resources stewardship, energy-saving sustainability, and “green” tourism adjacent to parks.
- Increasing involvement of the National Park Service in the Lake Erie, Michigan and Superior Management Plans.
- Researching large die-offs of fish-eating birds at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
- Analyzing engineering options for restoring natural shoreline processes at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
- Restoring and enhancing subdunal wetlands at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
- Devising an effective ballast water treatment system for the Ranger III vessel at Isle Royale National Park.
For more information, please contact Naureen Rana, Midwest Program Manager, at midwest@npca.org or (312) 263-0111.
