Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2015 - Fall

The Great Lakes represent the largest surface freshwater system in North America and support over 43 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Decades of industrialization, agricultural runoff, invasive species, and habitat destruction have significantly degraded ecological integrity. The Act reauthorizes and strengthens the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), building on Phase I (2010–2014), which funded over 2,500 restoration projects. Environmental challenges addressed include toxic sediment contamination, nutrient pollution causing harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, and invasive species introduction.

The workshop developed a program design for Phase II of the Restoration Initiative, authorizing $475 million annually through 2020. The proposed framework enhances EPA authority, strengthens interagency coordination through a task force structure, improves transparency and reporting, and establishes clear performance metrics. The design emphasizes watershed-based nutrient reduction strategies, contaminated sediment remediation, habitat restoration targets, and invasive species prevention mechanisms. By institutionalizing adaptive management and cross-agency collaboration, the Act seeks to restore chemical, physical, and biological integrity to the Great Lakes while safeguarding regional economic and public health interests.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.