Great Lakes Catch a Break

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Dec 13, 2005 5:33PM

A partnership of government agencies and private groups has come up with a 15-year, $20 billion plan to clean up the Great Lakes. The plan includes ways to keep invasive species out of the lakes, improve sewage systems, clean up the deterioration of animal habitats, clean up toxic hotspots and improve wetlands and rivers.

$20 billion seems like a lot of cash, but remember how big the Great Lakes region is.. here to Canada and from Minnesota to New York. 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces border the lakes, which contain 20% of the world's fresh surface water. About 30 million people use the lakes as a source of drinking water and they provide a vital link in the US's shipping network.

The plan is the result of a year's work and a commitment of $300 million in the 2007 federal budget is needed for the plan. Mayor Daley has asked President Bush to support the new funding, saying, "I am well aware that there are competing priorities and tight budgets, however, investments we make now will prevent the need for far larger expenditures in the future."

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