Great Lakes Commission 2025 Federal Priorities
The Great Lakes Commission released their 2025 Federal Priorities, which focus on safeguarding and improving the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes basin.
The Great Lakes provide drinking water for 47.5 million people and support an agricultural economy valued at $24 billion and a recreational economy from fishing, hunting, boating, and wildlife-watching worth $81 billion. To ensure that this vital resource is protected, the eight Great Lakes states created the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) in 1955.
The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes. Key priorities for 2025 include:
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI): Calls for full funding of $475 million in FY 2026, with a push to reauthorize GLRI for $500 million annually.
- Invasive Species Control: Continued funding for programs to tackle aquatic invasive species, including collaborations for early detection and rapid response.
- Water Quality: Emphasizes funding to combat harmful algal blooms (HABs), and PFAS contamination, alongside supporting conservation practices for water quality improvement.
- Maritime Infrastructure: Advocates for investments in ports, icebreakers, and lock construction, especially at the Soo Locks, to ensure a robust and resilient maritime system.
- Coastal Resilience: Focuses on mitigating storm events and extreme weather impacts through science-based solutions and nature-based interventions.
To view the full 2025 Federal Priorities presented to the 119th US Congress, visit https://www.glc.org/wp-content/uploads/GLC-Federal-Priorities-2025-FINAL.pdf.