Great Lakes Restoration Project - Ohio Department of Natural ...

New Protecting and Restoring New York’s Great LakesFor Now and the FutureAll people, including future generations, deserve clean and safe water.There is a strong environmental awareness in the Empire State and adeep commitment to preserve our cherished land, air and water.Within New York’s Great Lakeswatersheds, clean water supportsabundant fisheries, wildlife andagriculture, is the source ofdrinking water for urban and ruralpopulations, provides a broad rangeof recreational activities and isimportant to local economies.The Great Lakes are economicallyand environmentally vital to thepeople of New York State.Restoring impaired habitats andchanging practices that result in thedischarge of polluted municipal andindustrial runoff into streams, rivers and lakes are important goals forthe state, its communities, and its citizens. Progress has been made incleaning our Great Lakes and their contributing watersheds, but muchremains to be accomplished.An Array of Projects. Congress made a valuablecontribution to a healthier environment in and around the Great Lakesby providing resources for coastal restoration. In 2001, New Yorkreceived $4.5 million in federal funding to protect and restore coastalresources and water quality in communities throughout its Great Lakeswatershed. Using these funds, New York State’s Coastal ManagementProgram worked with other state agencies and environmental groupsto leverage an additional $10 million in needed improvements.Twenty-four projects were competitively selected from those proposedby state agencies and local governments. Selected projects preventcontamination through erosion control, debris removal, and treatmentof storm water runoff. Otherprojects include stream restoration,improved fish passage, andestablishment of buffer zones ofnative vegetation around waterbodies to minimize infiltration ofpollutants and improve wildlifehabitat. Projects to purchaseconservation easements and parcelsof land will preserve existingpristine water quality and habitats.The funds also support coastalhabitat and watershed managementplanning projects.The Future of Great Lakes Restoration.The Federal Great Lakes Coastal Watershed Restoration Grant Programis making a difference in New York. However, the fight to protectthese majestic waterways and address the detrimental water qualityand habitat impacts of the past is far from over. Many more excellentprojects wait to be advanced to restore New York’s Great Lakes.[ 10] GREAT LAKES RESTORATION PROJECT