Eleven Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Grants

Jul 23: The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) recently announced eleven grants totaling almost $300,000 were recently announced by the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. The awards went to applicants in six of the eight Great Lakes states and were selected by GLC's Sediment Task Force from 84 applications received during this year’s application cycle. Over $2 million was requested by 84 applicants but budget constraints limited total funding.

Basin Program grant awards included $30,000 to the Ullr Mountain Gully Erosion and Sediment Control Project in Grand Marais, MN; $35,000 to the Menomonee River Erosion Control Project in Milwaukee, WI; $30,000 to the Silver Creek Super Project in Grayling, MI; $12,459 to the St. Joseph River Watershed Soil Erosion/Sediment Control Project in Hillsdale, MI; $29, 891 to research on “Stabilizing Nutrient-Rich Cropland with Cover Crops and Targeted Zone-Tillage” by Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI; $30,000 to the “Cover it Green” project in Norwalk, OH; $10,500 to Lorain County Erosion and Sediment Control in Elyria, OH; $30,000 to Cascade Creek Watershed Improvements in Erie, PA; $30,000 to Eighteenmile Creek Streambank Restoration and Erosion Control in East Aurora, NY; $30,000 to the Genesee River Watershed Soil Erosion Control Project in Rochester, NY; and $24,200 to the St. Lawrence and Franklin County Ag Soil Erosion Sediment project in Canton, NY.

Access an announcement from GLC and link to further details on the projects (click here). Access the GLC Soil Erosion and Sediment Control program website for more information (click here).

Great Lakes Protection Fund Announces Cutbacks

Jan 23: The Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) issued an announcement saying that it is "making changes to its operations to adapt to the challenges of our contracting economy. As a permanent endowment, we remain committed to supporting our current project teams and to making new grants in support of our mission. However, out of economic necessity, we have made some substantial operational changes. We have reduced our operating budget significantly and the level of support for new projects will be reduced in 2009. We are committed to openly communicating any changes that might be necessary in light of the ongoing economic volatility. We will keep our website up to date and encourage you to check in periodically."

GLPF is a private, nonprofit corporation formed in 1989 by the Governors of the Great Lakes States. It is a permanent environmental endowment that supports collaborative actions to improve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Fund's Board of Directors is comprised of two governor appointed representatives from each member state. The Board of Directors meets quarterly and governs the Fund's operation. To date, the Fund had made 221 grants and program related investments representing more than $56.5 million in regional projects to improve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Access the announcement (click here). Access the GLPF website (click here).

Great Lakes Fish And Wildlife Restoration Grants

Feb 15: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is seeking pre-proposals for projects to restore Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources through its Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grants Program. The program provides Federal grants on a competitive basis to states, tribes and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes basin. Projects are funded under authority of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006.

Since 1998, 72 restoration projects totaling $6.6 million, including $3.9 million in Federal funds, have been implemented. FWS contributes up to 75 percent of the cost of the projects, with matching funds and expertise coming from partner organizations. To date, more than 60 organizations have participated in projects funded under the act. States, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments and Native American treaty organizations within the Great Lakes basin are eligible to apply for the funding. Non-government and conservation organizations may also receive funding, if sponsored by an organization listed above; however, sponsorship is not required at the pre-proposal stage. Applicants must submit their pre-proposals to FWS by March 28, 2008.

Access a release from FWS (click here). Access a request for proposals, instructions for submitting pre-proposals and complete background information (click here).