Great Lakes Protection and Restoration

Environment Program Strategy: Great Lakes Restoration

Goal: Protect and restore the Great Lakes by resolving the most critical basin-wide threats to the region’s water resources.

Theory of Change: The health and resiliency of the Great Lakes may be significantly improved by simultaneously making progress on three interconnected issues: aquatic invasive species; nonpoint source pollution, especially excess nutrients from cities and farms; and advancing and defending key state, regional, and federal policies and funding.

The Joyce Approach

Prevent The Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

• Strengthen federal and state ballast water policy.
• Prevent movement of aquatic invasive species between Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins via Chicago Area Waterway.
• Encourage a new vision for the St. Lawrence Seaway that may include modified operations.
• Increase state collaboration on aquatic invasive species prevention and management.

Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution

• Reduce nonpoint source pollution from urban landscapes (Milwaukee).
• Reduce nonpoint source pollution from agricultural landscapes (Western Lake Erie Basin).
• Support strategic pilots and policy shifts to promote green stormwater management infrastructure.
• Promote water quality monitoring, science and research.

Make the Great Lakes a Policy and Funding Priority

• Ensure effective Great Lakes Compact implementation.
• Support state and regional groups to defend and advance policies to protect and restore the Great Lakes.
• Support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other federal and state Great Lakes funding efforts.
• Convene critical partners to enable maximum progress on these issues.

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