The White House is reportedly considering virtually eliminating the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), with some reports indicating that funding would be drastically cut from $300 million to $10 million in the next fiscal year. We can’t afford to sit back and wait to see if this happens, and we urge our community to ACT NOW and let your voice be heard before these cuts to clean water become reality. Join us in telling your elected representatives:

“Don’t cut Great Lakes funding!”

Our Great Lakes and clean water are important to everyone. WNY’s water-based economic and waterfront revitalization is the direct result of environmental programs like the GLRI, yet much work remains for our region’s waterways. We can’t afford to let Scajaquada Creek, the Niagara River, Lake Erie, Cayuga/Bergholtz Creeks, and the Black Rock Canal to be abandoned again.

The GLRI has been one of the most successful pieces of legislation in Great Lakes history. The globally-recognized and international-award winning restoration of the Buffalo River would not have been possible without the EPA’s assistance and nearly $50 million in GLRI funding. The GLRI provides much needed funding to abandoned and toxic waterways, restores the beauty and use of these recreational resources, protects drinking water, and battles invasive species like Asian carp.

Collectively, the Great Lakes enable the fourth largest economy in the world. Many of the GLRI projects have leveraged additional local and private funding, regularly demonstrating at least a 3:1 return on investment, and contributing to thousands of jobs throughout the Great Lakes. Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is asking for your help - we need you to send a letter to your U.S. Representatives and Senators with a strong message. Use your address (at right) to create an email to send today. Your email can be as simple as this:

“Maintain funding for the world’s largest surface freshwater system. Protect our drinking water, fish and wildlife habitats, water-based economy, and our quality of life – do not cut Great Lakes funding!”