The Great Lakes provide significant environmental, economic, and social value to the region and nation. Part of the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world and home to thousands of plant and animal species, the Great Lakes contain 95 percent of our country’s surface fresh water supply and are a primary economic driver in the region.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative offsite link (GLRI) is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. NOAA is pleased to be one of a dozen federal agencies collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the Initiative, which began in FY2010. Work is guided by the GLRI Action Plan IV offsite link, which covers fiscal years 2025-2029. The Action Plan calls for aggressive efforts to address the most significant problems facing the Great Lakes. These urgent issues have been divided into five focus areas:
- Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern
- Invasive Species
- Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution
- Habitats and Species
- Foundations for Future Restoration Actions
Contact
For additional information on NOAA’s GLRI work, contact:
Ena Humphries
Email: Ena.Humphries@noaa.gov
Mobile office: 734-210-0731