Annual Meeting Summary - Presentations Now Online!
Presentations and a summary of the 2016 Annual Meeting are now online - view recordings from sessions on Climate Change, Nutrients, Safe Drinking Water, Phragmites, and more! If you were not able to join us for the Annual Meeting, our summary provides information on the details of the event. Click here for more information.
$2 Million in Key Federal Funding Awarded to Great Lakes Cities
The US EPA announced last week that $2 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding was awarded to 13 shoreline cities, including Manitowoc, WI; Ashland, WI; and Duluth, MN, all members of the Cities Initiative. This funding will allow cities to improve the water quality and health of beachfront areas using green infrastructure. GLSLCI Executive Director David Ullrich stated, "
Cities all along the Great Lakes are working hard to connect with the water in ways that are good for the Lakes and good for the quality of life and economic well-being of the people who live there. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative deeply appreciates this recognition of the important role cities can play in the protection and restoration challenge, and notes that these investments are yet another example of how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is making a huge difference on the shores and in the Lakes." Read more here.
US EPA Requests Stakeholder Input on Informing the Public about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the Great Lakes
The US EPA seeks public input on strategies for notifying citizens about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) into the Great Lakes region. Comments may be submitted online here, and a public in-person will be held on September 14, 2016, in Chicago. Many cities use Combined Sewer Overflows to alleviate pressure on combined sewer systems, particularly during high-rainfall events. However, CSOs can have adverse environmental effects on water systems. Click here for more information.
Member News: City of Ashland, WI Awarded Funds for Shoreline Cleanup
The City of Ashland, Wisconsin was awarded $450,000 in state funds to redevelop and clean up contaminated sites near Lake Superior. The sites are former industrial facilities, and the city has been attempting to clean up these areas for over two decades. Mayor Deb Lewis emphasized the importance of this funding for the community of Ashland, particularly considering that Ashland lies within one of the poorest counties in the state.
Read more here.
Global Rise in Number of Cities Disclosing Climate Data
The non-profit CDP, which provides services to cities for measuring climate and greenhouse gas emissions data, announced that a record 533 cities are now reporting this type of data through CDP. CDP is also one of the reporting platforms available through the Compact of Mayors program. Cities Initiative member municipalities Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Windsor, ON; Halton Region, ON; Durham Region, ON: Ajax, ON; Montreal, QC; Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC; Chicago, IL; and Milwaukee, WI have all reported through CDP. CDP saw a 70% increase in municipalities using their reporting platform following the Paris Agreement in December 2015. Click here to read more.
Events and Webinars
|
Crude Move Webinar Series -Regulatory Activity and Environmental Requirements: Tools for Addressing Multiple Objectives Presented by Ohio Sea Grant
|
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
12:00 pm Central / 1:00 pm Eastern
|
Great Lakes Restoration Conference 2016
Hosted by the Healing Our Waters Coalition
|
September 20-22, 2016
Sandusky, Ohio
|
|
Great Lakes Public Forum 2016
Celebrating Our Great Lakes
Presented by U.S. EPA and Environment Canada
|
October 4-6, 2016
Toronto, Ontario
|
Membership
Please join the 123 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative members in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River by clicking
here for a membership application. If you are already a member, please encourage your neighboring communities to join, and be sure to renew your membership when you receive your notice.
If your municipality would like to share news with the Cities Initiative, please email information to Melissa Soline at melissa.soline@glslcities.org.
|
