AWRI holds public meeting about Great Lakes

Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute will host a public meeting aimed at gathering regional input about a new initiative to protect the Great Lakes.

Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry, along with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of the Great Lakes and Michigan United Conservation Clubs, are helping sponsor public meetings around the state to hear comments on Michigan’s Great Lakes Restoration and Protection Initiative.

Since the June announcement of the initiative, it has led watershed alliances, sportsmen’s organizations, tribal entities and other stakeholders to participate in developing a framework for a comprehensive Great Lakes restoration and protection plan for Michigan.

The West Michigan meeting will take place October 21, at 7 p.m., at The Lake Michigan Center at Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, 740 West Shoreline Drive.

AWRI has worked with Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Office of the Great Lakes to sponsor the event and ensure that a wide variety of local stakeholders will show up to contribute their concerns and priorities for regional restoration and protection.

AWRI Director Alan Steinman said the meeting is crucial for the region’s involvement in the plan. “For far too long we have seen how toxic pollution, aquatic invaders and habitat degradation have impacted our community’s sport fishery, economy and quality of life,” Steinman said.

For more information, contact AWRI’s Elaine Sterrett Isely at (616) 331-8788 or MUCC’s Dave Nyberg at (517) 346-6462.