The mission of Sustain Our Great Lakes is to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the Great Lakes basin by leveraging funding, building conservation capacity, and focusing partners and resources toward key ecological issues. The program achieves this mission, in part, by awarding competitive grants for on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement. Funding priority is given to projects that improve the quality and connectivity of tributary, wetland and coastal habitats.
From 2006 through 2012, Sustain Our Great Lakes has awarded 167 grants worth $28.9 million for habitat restoration in all eight States and both Provinces within the Great Lakes basin. Grantees have matched Sustain Our Great Lakes grant funding with an additional $29.7 million, for a total conservation investment of $58.6 million. This investment has provided support for the:
- Restoration of aquatic connectivity to more than 846 stream miles
- Restoration/enhancement of more than 27,000 acres of wetland, coastal and upland habitat
- Restoration/enhancement of 104 miles of stream and riparian habitat
The outcomes of the first five years of the Sustain Our Great Lakes program are described in the "2006-2010 Sustain Our Great Lakes Progress Report." Please click here to download the report.
To learn more about some of the projects funded by Sustain Our Great Lakes, please explore the Project Profiles. and the summary of Grants Awarded.