WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The president’s plan to invest $1 billion into the Great Lakes — an unparalleled ecosystem, economic driver and job creator, and drinking water provider — will conserve and restore wildlife habitat, clean up dangerous pollution, and address historic environmental injustices. The White House strategy implements the funds allocated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and strengthens the nation’s commitment to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

“The Great Lakes are North America’s most important source of freshwater and President Biden is delivering on his promise to restore them for the millions of people and thousands of wildlife species they support,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “These historic investments in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will both address historic inequities and safeguard the Great Lakes for future generations — especially if combined with the completion of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to stop invasive carp and efforts to protect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron from a catastrophic oil spill from the nearly 70-year-old Line 5 pipeline.”

“President Biden’s investments in the Great Lakes will pay off not only for fish and wildlife but also for protecting drinking water, recreational tourism and our way of life,” said Mike Shriberg, Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “Clean water is the Great Lakes region’s strategic advantage, and cleaning up our water and prioritizing investments in the communities with the most need will reap great dividends.”