Invasive carp pose a serious threat to the Great Lakes. Silver and bighead carp have already wreaked havoc on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, out-competing native fish for food and injuring people who recreate on the rivers. The invasive fish are steadily spreading upstream toward Lake Michigan.

Prevention measures in design

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun designing a critical project to stop invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan. The Corps is designing new carp prevention measures to install at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois, a chokepoint in waterways leading to Lake Michigan.

In the bill just passed, Congress increased the federal cost-share – which is how much the federal government will chip in for this critical project – to 90%. This commitment shows that Congress and the Administration recognize that the invasive carp moving toward Lake Michigan threaten the entire Great Lakes region.

By increasing the federal cost-share to 90%, Congress will help accelerate the project from design to construction.

Next steps for Illinois

The state of Illinois must take 2 important steps to keep this critical project moving forward:

• Illinois must sign an agreement with the Corps by the end of the year to keep the project on schedule.
• It’s time for Illinois to step up and work collaboratively with other Great Lakes states to fund the local portion of the construction phase of the project and keep invasive carp out of the lakes.

“Thank you to all the Great Lake advocates and members of Congress who are working to keep invasive carp out of our lakes,” says Molly Flanagan, Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for the Great Lakes. “We look forward to working with Illinois and other Great Lakes states to ensure the local share is funded.”

The post Congress Builds Momentum to Stop Invasive Carp appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Note: This blog is part of a periodic series of updates from Don Jodrey, the Alliance’s Director of Federal Government Relations, with his view on Great Lakes policy from Washington, DC.

At the beginning of the year we announced an ambitious federal policy agenda. We’re now just past the halfway mark of the year. So we’re asking: are we making progress, or is there more we can do to advocate for the Great Lakes?

As a quick refresher, our policy agenda for 2022 included:

• Increasing funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative;
• Increasing funding for water infrastructure; and
• Securing a cost share change for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project so that the project would be fully funded by the federal government.

House Makes Progress on Funding Great Lakes Priorities

On the funding side, the U.S. House of Representatives responded to our priorities and just voted on an appropriations bill that includes increased funds for the Great Lakes. Included in the “minibus” legislation (approximately six appropriations bills all bundled together) are:

• $2.9 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which is approximately level with last year and will provide funding to states to address water infrastructure needs like replacing lead pipes;

• $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is an increase of $20 million over last year’s funding and represents critical funding to address regional priorities such as cleaning up toxic hot spots, habitat restoration, water quality improvements, and managing invasive species;

• $47.8 million for the first phase of construction of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, to keep invasive carp out of the lakes; and

• $3 million for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, an increase of $2.5 million over the President’s Budget, that will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to start this important effort to address climate change and the needs of coastal communities in the face of fluctuating lake levels.

While the Senate has yet to move any funding bills for a vote, the House actions are encouraging. They demonstrate that Congress recognizes the importance of these programs to a healthy Great Lakes.

Bipartisan Action to Stop Invasive Carp

In addition to funding, the House and Senate – on a bipartisan vote – are moving legislation that continues strong momentum to stop invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan. 

Invasive carp pose a serious threat to the Great Lakes. Silver and bighead carp have already wreaked havoc on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, out-competing native fish for food and injuring people who recreate on the rivers. The invasive fish are steadily spreading upstream toward Lake Michigan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun designing a critical project to stop invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan by installing prevention measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois, a chokepoint in waterways leading to Lake Michigan.

The House passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 that will increase the federal cost-share – which is how much the federal government will chip in for this critical project – to 90%. The Senate has moved its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 out of committee and is expected to pass the bill later this summer. The Senate committee bill also includes the same cost-share provision as the House bill. This is good news and shows that Congress and the Administration recognize that the invasive carp moving toward Lake Michigan threaten the entire Great Lakes region.

Looking Ahead, Your Voice Makes a Difference

The legislative process will continue for the next several months and hopefully conclude before the start of the new federal fiscal year in October. We are encouraged by the progress thus far and will continue to press for increased funding and authority for programs that support and maintain the Great Lakes.

But it’s not too late for you to weigh in and encourage your members of congress to support clean water and a healthy Great Lakes.

The post Mid-Year Update: Alliance’s 2022 Federal Priorities appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“While we appreciate Illinois’ marketing efforts to address the growing threat of invasive carp, more carp (or “Copi”) making its way to consumers’ plates will not fix the problem. The state must keep its eye on the long game and focus on building protections at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam that are essential to keeping invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan.

We have been pleased to see that fortifying Brandon Road is a priority for Congress and the Biden administration: We saw a historic federal investment earlier this year to fully fund the initial phase of the project (preconstruction, engineering and design, and the first year of construction). But we can’t rest on our laurels — we need to ensure momentum continues in order to get the Brandon Road project built. If the state is serious about addressing the threat of invasive carp, Illinois must step up and work collaboratively with other Great Lakes states to fund the local portion of the construction phase of the project and keep invasive carp out of the lakes. Illinois must also sign an agreement with the Corps by the end of the year to keep the project on schedule. We look forward to working with Illinois and other Great Lakes states to ensure the local share is funded.”

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Statement on Effort to Rename & Increase Marketing of Invasive Carp: “It will not fix the problem.” appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released its version of the Water Resource and Development Act (WRDA) today. The bill adjusts the federal cost share for construction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Brandon Road Lock and Dam project in Joliet, Illinois to 90 percent. This change reflects the importance of the Brandon Road project to ensure invasive carp stay out of Lake Michigan. The Corps—in partnership with Illinois, Michigan and the other Great Lakes states—has already made significant progress in designing innovative technological measures at Brandon Road, which is the choke point for invasive carp traveling from the Mississippi River Basin into the Great Lakes.

However, more still needs to be done. We urge Great Lakes Members of Congress to change the federal cost share to 100 percent in order to ensure the project proceeds to construction without delay. The Alliance for the Great Lakes looks forward to working with our partners in Congress so that the entire country benefits from the new technologies the Corps is implementing as part of this project.”

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Alliance Urges Congress to Fully Fund Project to Stop Invasive Carp appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Note: This blog is part of a periodic series of updates from Don Jodrey, the Alliance’s Director of Federal Government Relations, with his view on Great Lakes policy from Washington, DC.

Last year Congress and the Biden Administration delivered on historic investments in water programs which brought significant funding to the Great Lakes region. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) included nearly $50 billion in water infrastructure funding, $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and $226 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project to halt the spread of invasive carp.

Last year’s achievements are a tough act to follow. The FY 2023 President’s Budget, the first step in the federal government budget process, was released earlier this week by the White House. While it supports increased funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overall and specifically increases funding for the agency’s environmental justice efforts, the budget falls short in some respects.

Although the FY 2023 President’s Budget proposes some modest additional investments in water infrastructure, it fails to take up the invitation extended by the IIJA which provided for significantly increased authorization levels for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The higher authorization – which is a top threshold for program funding – was necessary to address the significant backlog of water infrastructure needs nationwide. Instead, the budget proposes maintaining the SRFs at $3.7 billion, which is the same level that Congress appropriated last year. It proposes modest increases of $22 million for the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Program ($182 million total) and $46 million for community grants for environmental injustice ($140 million total). Both are important programs but we know that much more is needed to fix failing and outdated sewer and water infrastructure.

For the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the budget proposes $340 million, which is an $8 million decrease from the FY 2022 enacted level and well short of the program’s authorized level of $400 million.

The FY 2023 President’s Budget is a starting point as we turn our attention to working with Congress to secure funds that will protect the Great Lakes.

The post DC Update: Biden’s FY23 Budget Proposal & the Great Lakes appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

The annual priorities outline our federal policy agenda and identify the next steps Congress should take in this session to protect the lakes. Today we’ll discuss our top Great Lakes priorities for lawmakers in Washington, DC, and dig into the opportunities and challenges facing our agenda in the year ahead.

Speakers include Alliance for the Great Lakes policy experts:
Joel Brammeier, President & CEO
Molly Flanagan, COO & Vice President for Programs
Crystal M.C. Davis, Vice President for Policy and Strategic Engagement
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Relations
Jennifer Caddick, Vice President, Communications & Engagement (Moderator)

Resources

Please read our blog for a summary of the Great Lakes Federal Policy Agenda. You can also view our previously recorded webinar to hear our priorities laid out in detail. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2022! Tell Congress: do 3 big things this year to protect the Great Lakes and the people who depend on them.

The post Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities 2022 appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Last January, we set an ambitious agenda for the incoming Biden administration and new Congress. And by the end of the year, we saw exciting progress for the Great Lakes. Historic bipartisan infrastructure legislation included funding to speed up efforts to remove dangerous lead drinking water pipes, stop invasive carp, implement on-the-ground Great Lakes restoration projects, and more. And through a mix of legislation and executive orders, the administration and Congress have begun the important work of addressing long-standing environmental injustices and slowing climate change.

Yet the list of needs to protect the Great Lakes and the people who depend on them is long. Our policy team has identified our top three federal Great Lakes priorities for the coming year. In 2022, the Alliance urges the Biden administration and Congress to:

• Increase water infrastructure funding and prioritize fixing environmental injustices
• Fund Great Lakes restoration at $400 million
• Fully fund invasive carp protections

Last year our top federal policy priority urged the Biden administration and Congress to prioritize environmental justice. While they have taken initial steps, federal water programs must continue to shift to prioritize low-income communities and communities of color, where the burden of pollution often hits hardest. Repairing the long-term harm from environmental injustice issues can’t be a one-time step. Instead, it must be incorporated into every federal program and measured publicly to show progress. And protecting our communities from the impacts of a changing climate means building resilience into federal Great Lakes programs as well. Environmental justice and climate change are embedded in each of our 2022 policy priorities.

Read on for more details of our federal policy agenda.

Increase water infrastructure funding and prioritize fixing environmental injustices

Last year Congress passed historic bipartisan legislation – the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 – to address the nation’s backlog of infrastructure projects. The bill included about $50 billion over the next five years to fix failing and outdated drinking and wastewater infrastructure nationally. It was a critical down payment to help communities remove lead drinking water pipes, stop sewer overflows into rivers and lakes, and prevent community flooding.

But it’s not enough. Great Lakes states alone need an estimated $188 billion over the next 20 years for their water infrastructure needs.

We call on Congress and the administration to build on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and:

• Increase funding to $8.3 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the main pathway to distribute water infrastructure funding to states
• Ensure that infrastructure dollars prioritize disadvantaged communities for funding as grants
• Support nature-based infrastructure solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavement
• Enact a ban on residential water shutoffs due to nonpayment and require reconnection of water service
• Establish a permanent low-income water assistance program

For full details of our water infrastructure policy asks, download our fact sheet.

Fund Great Lakes restoration at $400 million

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), established over 15 years ago, is one of the most important tools in the region’s toolbox to protect and restore the lakes. The program provides funding for on-the-ground restoration projects, from wetland restoration to cleaning up toxic hotspots. In addition to environmental benefits, GLRI funding garners a 3-to-1 return in additional economic benefits across the region.

While we need continued investment in the program, the strategy guiding the GLRI needs an update to ensure that funds are reaching communities most in need and to address climate change.

We call on Congress and the administration to:

• Allocate at least $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative this year
• Increase funding for cleaning up toxic hotspots around the lakes using additional GLRI funds included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill
• Update the strategy guiding the GLRI with a focus on combating environmental injustices and climate change

For full details of our Great Lakes restoration policy asks, download our fact sheet.

Fully fund invasive carp protections

Invasive carp pose a clear threat to the Great Lakes. Established populations of these harmful fish are only 50 miles from Chicago and Lake Michigan. But it’s not too late to prevent them from reaching the lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed the construction of additional carp prevention measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. The facility is a critical choke point in the waterways leading to Lake Michigan.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dedicated funding received in the bipartisan infrastructure bill to wrap up project design and get started on construction. But more needs to be done.

We call on Congress and the Biden administration to:

• Adjust the cost-share for the Brandon Road project to 100 percent federal funding in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 due to the project’s national scope
• Ensure ongoing updates and regular input from the public on the Brandon Road project

For full details of our invasive carp policy asks, download our fact sheet.

Want to learn more? Watch the webinar.

The post 2022 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“Today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers included nearly $226 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project, meant to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, in its Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2022 Construction Work Plan. This represents the full amount of federal funds needed to complete preconstruction, engineering and design (PED) for the project in Joliet, IL (about 50 miles downstream of Chicago). The Corps also included initial federal funds needed to begin construction at the completion of PED.

This is an historic step forward for this critically needed project to add a chain of smart technologies to the waterway that will stop invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes applauds President Biden and his administration, Senators Durbin and Stabenow, Representatives Kaptur and Joyce, and the Great Lakes Congressional delegation for their leadership on this issue. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to adjust the cost share for construction at Brandon Road to 100% of federal funds in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The eight Great Lakes governors sent a letter to the Environment and Public Works Committee supporting this cost-share adjustment. This change would allow the project to move immediately to construction at the conclusion of the design phase and ensure that we continue moving with urgency to protect our states’ greatest natural resource, the Great Lakes, from the threat of invasive carp.”

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Media contact: Please connect with our media team at TeamGreatLakes@mrss.com.

The post Statement: Historic Step Forward to Stop Invasive Carp appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Note: This blog is part of a periodic series of updates from Don Jodrey, the Alliance’s Director of Federal Government Relations, with his view on Great Lakes policy from Washington, DC.

We laid out an ambitious federal policy agenda back in January 2021 as President Biden took office and as the 117th Congress convened. Our major federal policy priorities for 2021 were:

• prioritize environmental justice,
• increase drinking water & wastewater infrastructure funding & stop water shutoffs,
• fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative & restore and strengthen clean water protections,
• fund efforts to stop invasive carp,
• address agricultural pollution that drives harmful algal blooms.

So, as this year draws to a close, how did the Biden administration and Congress do? Are we making progress on our priorities? Overall, 2021 was a very good year. The administration has embraced our priorities, and we achieved some major legislative victories. All of this sets a strong course for continued progress on efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes for the next several years.

Several positive themes emerged over the year, including a major focus on racial and social justice, investing in core public benefits like water infrastructure, enhancing restoration opportunities, and addressing climate change.

A Major Focus on Racial and Social Justice

First, the Biden administration has made racial equity, including environmental justice, one of its top priorities. On his first day in office, President Biden signed an Executive Order that repealed a ban on racial sensitivity and diversity and inclusion training. We specifically called for this action in our priorities and applaud this step. Ensuring that federal agencies have the training to provide policies and services equitably to all Americans is critical.

The President also appointed Michael Regan as Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has made other high-profile cabinet and sub-cabinet level appointments that reflect the diversity of the American people.

Back in January, we called on President Biden to “ensure that environmental justice is centered in the work of all federal agencies and administrative decisions that impact the Great Lakes and the communities and residents that are dependent on them.” We see this in action in the administration’s Justice 40 initiative and the establishment of a White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Justice 40 is a government-wide effort to ensure that federal agencies work with state and local governments and communities to deliver at least 40 percent of overall benefits from federal investment in environmental and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. The White House has issued interim guidance to agencies to guide this work, and although there is much more to do, we are pleased that this effort is well underway.

Significant Progress on Funding Repairs to Outdated Water and Sewer Infrastructure

Second, significant progress is being made to address the nation’s outdated infrastructure, including drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, through the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Increasing funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and the replacement of lead service lines was a key item on our list of priorities for the Biden administration and Congress this year.

After months of negotiations, Congress delivered, and the President signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The legislation makes a solid down payment on our water infrastructure needs, including funding to begin the long-overdue replacement of lead service lines. It also includes an additional $50 billion in supplemental funding for nationwide investments in water infrastructure over the next five years, including:

• an additional $11.7 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund,
• $11.7 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund,
• $15 billion to replace harmful lead service lines, and,
• $10 billion to address PFAS (or forever chemicals) contamination.

Congress listened to advocates from around the Great Lakes region who wrote letters and called their representatives in Washington, DC. Advocates spoke out about the critical need for funding to fix our region’s antiquated water infrastructure, which will protect our Great Lakes and provide significant environmental, human health, and economic benefits for our communities.

Big Investments in Great Lakes Restoration

Third, we also have seen significant progress in securing additional funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes an additional $1 billion for GLRI over the next five years. This funding will allow agencies to support on-the-ground projects around the lakes to clean up toxic pollutants, restore habitat, reduce pollution from nutrient runoff, and combat invasive species.

Continued Progress on Stopping Invasive Carp

Fourth, we are seeing progress in funding efforts to stop invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. The FY 2022 President’s Budget included funds for project engineering and design for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project, a critical Army Corps of Engineers project to stop invasive carp from moving from the Illinois River into the Great Lakes. And, although Congress has not fully approved the final FY 2022 appropriations bill, both the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction on this issue agreed with the President’s request and have included funding for the Brandon Road project engineering and design, which will take about four years to complete.

Continued Focus on Reducing Harmful Agricultural Pollution

And, finally, we were pleased that the President’s budget proposed additional funding for agriculture conservation programs that reduce nutrient pollution – a leading cause of harmful algal blooms – from flowing into waterways. While Congress has not yet adopted a final budget for the fiscal year, it appears that both the House and Senate have, to some degree, supported this request. Looking ahead, we have begun work with conservation partners to develop priorities for the next federal Farm Bill, anticipated in 2023.

We also worked with the state of Ohio to begin the development of a TMDL (total maximum daily load) for western Lake Erie, which would set limits for agricultural pollution flowing into waterways. We anticipate the TMDL process will continue until the fall of 2022.

As 2021 draws to a close, we are grateful that we are making significant progress in securing major boosts in federal funding for key programs that protect and restore the Great Lakes.

The post Year-End Federal Policy Update: Strong Progress Made on Alliance’s Priorities appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

• prioritize environmental justice, 
• increase drinking water & wastewater infrastructure funding & stop water shutoffs,
• fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative & restore and strengthen clean water protections
• fund efforts to stop invasive carp
• address agricultural pollution that drives harmful algal blooms

At the heart of this list was a call to address the harms caused by systemic racism, addressing climate change, and ensuring that everyone around the lakes has access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water.

So, at this 100-day mark, how are things going? What progress has been made on the Alliance’s list of priorities? Although there is much more work to be done, we’ve seen some encouraging progress. The President has signed a flurry of Executive Orders, nominated his cabinet, appointed other high-level officials, and proposed significant legislation. Several positive themes have emerged, including a focus on racial and social justice, climate change, and investing in core public benefits like water infrastructure. Here are a few highlights.

First, the Biden administration has made racial equity, including environmental justice, a cornerstone of their policy decision-making. On his first day in office, President Biden signed an Executive Order that repealed a ban on racial sensitivity and diversity and inclusion training for federal agencies and contractors. We specifically called for this action in our list of priorities and applaud this step. Ensuring that federal agencies have the training to ensure policies and services are provided equitably to all Americans is critical. The President also appointed Micheal Regan as Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Regan has specifically noted that justice and equity will be key to his leadership of the agency. Back in January, we called on President Biden to “ensure that environmental justice is centered in the work of all federal agencies and administrative decisions that impact the Great Lakes and the communities and residents that are dependent on them.” We see this in action already. 

Second, President Biden has proposed significant legislation to address the nation’s outdated infrastructure, including drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. We are encouraged to see that President Biden’s proposal, called The American Jobs Plan, includes major water infrastructure commitments to the tune of $111 billion. Specifically, the proposal includes replacing all lead pipes and the modernization of America’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. The proposal also prioritizes natural infrastructure investments to better protect Great Lakes communities against some of the worsening impacts of climate change. 

President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget also focuses on infrastructure by proposing reinvestments in core public service programs, including a 21 percent proposed increase for the U.S. EPA, which will benefit the Great Lakes.  In our list of federal policy priorities, we called on President Biden to dramatically increase funding and other federal support to fix our failing water infrastructure. His legislative and budget proposals are an important first step.

Third, we have seen a renewed focus on climate change. The Great Lakes region is already feeling the impacts of climate change, from rapid swings in water levels to heavier, more frequent storm events. The President has appointed a high-level team of climate advisors and, on his first day in office, re-committed the United States to the Paris climate agreement. And, climate change has been a top focus of his appointees to federal agencies. In January, we called on President Biden to recognize that “a changing climate will make existing Great Lakes problems worse for the foreseeable future,” and his focus on climate change is encouraging. 

The post 100 Day Recap: Federal Great Lakes Priorities in Action appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.