GLRI Results

The GLRI has been a catalyst for restoration, revitalization, and protection of the Great Lakes. Since its inception in 2010, federal, state, and local partners have implemented over 8,000 projects that have resulted in exceptional ecological and economic benefits. GLRI results are also reported in the GLRI Reports to Congress.

Focus Area 1 - Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern

Delisted 6 AOCs (7 total delisted).
Removed 120 Beneficial Use Impairments which are measures of environmental degradation (130 total removed). That is over 12 times the number removed before the start of the GLRI. 3 more BUIs are on track to be removed by the end of Fiscal Year 2025.
All management actions completed at an additional 10 AOCs.
Conducted yearly monitoring activities to assess contaminant levels in fish collected from the
Great Lakes that will be used by state agencies and Tribes to establish updated safe fish consumption guidelines.
Shared information on risks and benefits with the public on consuming Great Lakes fish, wildlife, and harvested plant resources.

Focus Area 2 – Invasive Species

Taken action to control invasive species on over 303,000 terrestrial and aquatic acres.
Implemented key strategies that have kept self-sustaining populations of invasive (silver, bighead, and black) carp out of the Great Lakes.
Developed and maintained Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS), an invasive species tracking and reporting system.

Focus Area 3 – Nonpoint Source Pollution

Prevented more than 2.65 million pounds of phosphorus from leaving agricultural fields and fueling algae growth in our waterways.
Applied soil and water conservation practices on over 2 million acres to prevent runoff and erosion.
Helped farmers improve their fertilizer use and prevent the risk of runoff on over 53,000 acres in Fiscal Year 2024.
Improved stormwater management in cities and on beaches to protect water quality.
Prevented more than 83 million gallons of stormwater from entering the Great Lakes through various green infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2024.
Used nature-based methods like rain gardens, riparian buffers, and permeable pavement to protect nearly 75 miles of streams and shoreline during FY22-24.

Focus Area 4 – Habitat and Species

Protected and restored over 529,000 acres of coastal wetland, nearshore, and other habitats.
Increased connectivity for aquatic organisms in almost 9,000 miles of Great Lakes tributaries.
Increased the number of Great Lakes Piping Plover pairs to the highest number recorded since the species was originally listed in 1986.
Implemented projects focused on federally listed endangered, threatened, and candidate Great Lakes aquatic and terrestrial species which has helped accelerate restoration of commercial and recreational Great Lakes fisheries collectively valued at $5.1 billion.

Focus Area 5 – Foundations for Future Restoration Actions

Impacted over 900,000 youth through hands-on stewardship projects.
Conducted annual comprehensive monitoring of coastal wetlands, contaminants in sediments, air and top-predator whole fish, nutrients, hypoxia, HABs, zooplankton, phytoplankton, benthic communities, and prey fish and top predator fish to assess the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Implemented interdisciplinary science projects targeting priority topics such as HABs, hypoxia, and coastal restoration.

Economic Benefits

The Socioeconomic Impacts of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative study by the University of Michigan showed that every federal dollar spent on GLRI projects will produce an additional $3.35 of economic activity in the Great Lakes region through 2036.
In 2020, independent researchers at Grand Valley State University conducted a follow-up study on GLRI economic results in Muskegon Lake, Michigan after restoration work occurred. This study found an even greater increase in economic activity than what was previously predicted in 2011. They found that restoration in Muskegon Lake led to a $7.9M increase in total home values and additional recreational benefits of $28M per year.

For more examples of GLRI success stories, read the yearly Reports to Congress.