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Endorsed by GLRC Executive Committee on March 2, 2007
I. Introduction
Wetlands are important for supporting wildlife, flood control and
improving water quality. In the Great Lakes basin more than half of the
original wetlands have been lost or degraded. While progress is being
made to stem the loss and reduce impairments, alterations to wetlands
are still occurring and remain a concern. Significant opportunities
exist to accelerate our efforts to protect and restore Great Lakes
wetlands. The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy outlined the
problems stemming from wetland alterations and set goals for restoring
and protecting them, recognizing that a shared vision and improved
coordination of existing programs would increase the ability to achieve
restoration goals.
As a first step toward achieving Regional Collaboration goals, the
Great Lakes Wetlands Initiative will promote on-the-ground activities to
protect and restore 200,000 acres of wetlands in the Great Lakes basin.
This initiative is designed to accelerate efforts to protect and restore
Great Lakes wetlands by connecting partners, programs, funding and
projects. Key elements of this initiative are:
- Bringing partners together to work on wetlands restoration
- Connecting partners with necessary information on programs,
funding and potential projects to make wetlands restoration happen
- Monitoring progress towards Great Lakes Wetlands Initiative
goals
II. Proposed Activities
The Initiative will help partners advance wetland restoration
projects by connecting partners with the information and resources they
need to make projects happen. A key related effort is the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (COE) Great Lakes Habitat Initiative to develop a
database and detailed inventory of potential wetlands restoration
projects. Together, the Wetlands and Habitat Initiatives along with
other Great Lakes efforts will form a framework to guide cooperative
wetlands restoration and protection activities in the basin.
The Subcommittee of the Executive Committee will oversee
implementation of this effort. The Steering Committee of the Corps’
Habitat Initiative, with government and non-government representation,
will be used to help guide development and implementation
Provide a stakeholder forum for partners to communicate, leverage
resources and identify shared opportunities for partnering
The Wetlands Initiative will provide an ongoing forum that brings
together federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments and other
Great Lakes stakeholders to make on-the-ground restoration projects
happen by sharing necessary information, priorities and lessons learned.
Meetings and conference calls will be held on a regular basis to
facilitate communication and coordination.
Provide partners with the necessary information to facilitate
collaborative restoration work
The Wetlands Initiative will connect partners with information
about potential projects, programs and funding sources for working
together to protect and restore wetlands.
Monitor Great Lakes wetland restoration progress
Progress will be measured and assessed against the 200,000 acre goal
using the same definitions and methodology as the President’s annual
Earth Day Wetlands Report. Great Lakes restoration progress will be
reported beginning in December 2007.
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