The Sustain Our Great Lakes, a public-private partnership administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, has announced $14.8 million in support of 48 projects aimed at restoring the Great Lakes basin. 

The grants will support efforts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife, and habitats; improve water quality; and enhance urban greenspace. Moreover, the partnership advances the objectives of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program designed to protect, restore, and enhance the Great Lakes ecosystem.

In addition, the grants will leverage approximately $18.3 million in project support from grantees, generating a total on-the-ground conservation impact of $33.1 million. 

“Sustain Our Great Lakes is a model public-private partnership that demonstrates the strength of collaboration,” said Chris Korleski, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office. “We are able to leverage Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds to increase the investment in communities for on-the-ground projects that reduce stormwater runoff, restore habitat, and reduce sedimentation and nutrient runoff. Working with federal and non-governmental partners, corporate and nonprofit partners, and grant recipients, we are able to support projects that improve water quality across the Great Lakes basin.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/csterken)