The Great Lakes, the world’s largest system of fresh surface water, supply drinking water to about 40 million people. But industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and invasive species have caused significant problems. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was created to address these issues and has received bipartisan support since its inception.
Izzy Ross and JuanPablo Ramirez Franco — climate reporters at Interlochen Public Radio, WBEZ, and Grist — recently covered concerns about the GLRI’s future. The initiative has funded thousands of projects across the region to combat invasive species, improve water quality, and clean up toxic substances in the lakes. These efforts have brought significant environmental and economic benefits to the region.
During his first term, President Trump proposed cuts to the program multiple times, though Congress repeatedly rejected those proposals. In 2019, Trump reversed his stance, endorsing full funding for the GLRI.
Now, with environmental programs increasingly under scrutiny in his second term, there’s is renewed uncertainty about the GLRI’s fate.
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The US and Canada have long managed the Great Lakes together. That era could be ending.
Wetlands rules face rollback under Trump: Great Lakes pollution next?
Featured image: GLRI NOAA vessel. (Photo Credit: Great Lakes Now)
