Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), established in 2010, is a federal interagency collaboration led by the EPA to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. The program focuses on providing safe water, controlling invasive species, mitigating algal blooms, and protecting native habitats. GLRI supports climate resilience by restoring coastal wetlands, forests, and grasslands, and by funding indigenous-led resilience projects. Since its inception, GLRI has funded over 6,000 projects totaling $3.48 billion, protecting over 440,000 acres of habitat and generating an estimated $3.35 in economic activity for every federal dollar spent. Funding is increasing under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, rising from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022, with annual increases of $25 million through FY 2026.

• The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a multi-agency effort led by the EPA, involving the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to address ecological threats such as invasive species, harmful algal blooms, and the degradation of 'Areas of Concern', which are EPA-designated environmentally damaged areas.
• GLRI enhances climate adaptation and resilience by restoring ecosystems that provide critical services, such as storm and flood protection, pollution filtering, and temperature regulation. This includes funding for indigenous communities to lead projects like restoring riparian habitats and protecting coastal wetlands.
• The program operates via a four-year Action Plan (currently through FY 2024) with five priority areas: invasive species, toxic substances and Areas of Concern, habitats and species, nonpoint source pollution impacts on nearshore health, and foundations for future restoration actions.
• GLRI has achieved significant environmental and economic impacts, including the protection of over 440,000 acres of habitat, the prevention of over one million pounds of phosphorus from entering the lakes, and the creation or support of an average of 5,180 jobs annually.
• A 2018 University of Michigan study found that every dollar of federal spending on the GLRI generates $3.35 in additional economic activity.
• The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019 increases program funding from $300 million to $375 million in FY 2022, with subsequent annual increases of $25 million until FY 2026.

APA

Roberts, A. S. (2021). Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-great-lakes-restoration-initiative

Chicago

Roberts, Anna Sophia. Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2021. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-great-lakes-restoration-initiative.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roberts |first1=Anna Sophia |title=Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=1 October 2021 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-great-lakes-restoration-initiative |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roberts2021federal, author = {Roberts, Anna Sophia}, title = {{Federal Resilience Programs: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-great-lakes-restoration-initiative}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }