The Great Lakes Regional Collaboraion

The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC)

What is it?

The Collaboration is a fast-track government effort to federally fund the Great Lakes Basin restoration, much like the plan to save the Everglades passed by the U.S. Congress in 2000. The Collaboration process was inspired by years of citizen organizing and a handful of the region’s senior members of Congress who have not been content with the government's current approach to protecting our environment.

Why do the Great Lakes matter?

The Great Lakes are a bi-national treasure, providing economic, biological, recreational and cultural benefits to North America. The Great Lakes Basin provides over 40 million Basin residents with fresh water and in 2002 alone had a GDP only exceeded by the United States as a whole and Japan. They support a diversity of wildlife and sustain a sports fishing industry valued at $7 billion annually. Unfortunately the Great Lakes themselves, our most valued asset, are under attack. Pressure from contaminated sediments and areas of concern (AOC’s), non-native species, habitat destruction, altered hydrology, persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBT’s), and other pollutants are threatening the vitality and productivity of the Great Lakes. A successful effort to protect and restore the Great Lakes must be undertaken now to close the door on these serious problems that threaten the health of our most important resource.

Our Involvement

Contrary to common knowledge, the majority of New York State is considered part of the Great Lakes basin. In order to bring in government funding to help restore New York's scenic beauty, NYRU plans to:

- Formulate and coordinate a statewide strategy to protect the vitality and productivity of New York's Great Lakes basin.

- Open communication to create a more coherent network between state agencies so that we can realize our common goal in the Great Lakes Initiative: Restoration.

-Maintain an organized network of agencies throughout the Great Lakes Collaboration to be certain that New York uses its tax payers dollars efficiently.

NYRU is an organized state-wide river organization that has always utilized multiple networks to achieve success. We realize that the Great Lakes Basin is a priority and, as always, our experience in restoring rivers and active involvement in policy planning in environmental issues make us well positioned to assume a vital role in this initiative. NYRU's close working relationships with local, regional, and national groups also make or participation crucial for the success of this effort.

Taking Action

On July 7th, 2005 a draft plan for the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) was released, and is currently enduring a 60 day comment period for public input (You can make your voice heard on this issue at www.glc.org/glrc/comment.html). NYRU was a major voice in this consensus based plan that was constructed from comprehensive recommendations by over 1,500 people representing NGO's, government and state agencies, tribal leaders, businesses, and other stakeholders. Currently, NYRU is taking the initiative to unite New York environmental groups in support of this plan by calling a meeting to educate and prepare state agencies. In addition, we are helping other organizations, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with their own meetings. NYRU is determined not to allow this opportunity to restore a national treasure slip away due to poor preparation.

Any questions concerning the GLRC can be directed to mark@newyorkriversunited@org, and additional information on the plan can be found at www.glc.org/glrc or www.epa.gov/greatlakes/collaboration.