I have always believed that progress on the Great Lakes happens when patience meets persistence. The challenges facing our waters rarely appear overnight. They build slowly, shaped by years of pressure, changing landscapes, and decisions that ripple far beyond one moment. And then there comes a year when the needle moves. A year when the long work begins to pay off.
Thanks to your support, 2025 was that kind of year.
Stopping Invasive Species Before They Spread More
After years of advocacy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on the critical invasive carp barrier at Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois. Construction is now underway, and we are working closely with partners to ensure every phase continues as planned. This milestone brings us closer to keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes for good.
Restoring and Protecting the Lakes We Share
This year, we helped shape the next chapter of the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The updated program will better address environmental justice and climate impacts, making sure federal investments reach communities that need them most. Our lakes deserve solutions that reflect the realities of today and the future we are preparing for.
Defending Clean Water Infrastructure
Federal funding cuts threatened the ability of overburdened communities to replace lead service lines, fix outdated sewers, and protect families from contaminated water. Our policy experts broke down the consequences, giving members of Congress and partners clear, actionable analysis to push back. Their response showed how much this work matters and how deeply people care about protecting safe drinking water
Reducing Plastic Pollution, One Policy at a Time
Our efforts to curb microplastic pollution gained traction at the state level. The Illinois Senate and a House committee advanced a phaseout of single-use foam food containers. While the bill did not pass this session, this progress signals growing momentum. With continued advocacy, our region is poised to become a national leader in reducing plastic waste.
People Power: Volunteers and Advocates Making Change
In 2025, more than 10,000 Adopt-a-Beach volunteers cleaned shorelines across all five lakes. Their work fuels the largest litter database of its kind, guiding researchers and policymakers who rely on the truth their data reveals. Supporters also sent over 13,000 messages to decision-makers, reminding leaders that people are paying attention and that clean water is not optional.
Securing Safe, Affordable Water for Every Community
Our State Revolving Fund Advocates Forum grew to more than 230 members nationwide. This network helps communities learn how to access federal infrastructure funding and strengthen local drinking water and wastewater systems. Clean water should not depend on your ZIP code. This work helps make sure it doesn’t.
Addressing Flooding and Sewage Overflows
We launched the Flooding and Sewage Coalition in Southern Lake Michigan to support communities facing basement backups, chronic flooding, and failing wastewater systems. We are also developing a Flooding and Sewage Vulnerability Tool that will help agencies identify risks and build better protections. Families deserve homes that stay dry and water systems that work.
Guarding Against Unsustainable Water Use
This year, our report on water use revealed that the Great Lakes region is not prepared for growing demands from data centers, agriculture, mining, and other major water users. We identified the lack of transparency in water withdrawal decisions and called for policies that protect both economic development and the long-term health of our water. The report sparked local and national attention, signaling a turning point in how we plan for the future.
Fighting Harmful Algal Blooms with Better Data
In Michigan’s Western Lake Erie Basin, our coalition implemented a high-density network of monitors at fifty locations. These sensors started collecting continuous data this spring, giving state leaders, farmers, and conservation groups better tools to reduce phosphorus pollution and harmful algal blooms.
Exposing Nitrate Pollution in Drinking Water
Our report on nitrate contamination in Wisconsin revealed how thousands of families are paying higher water costs and facing serious health risks due to fertilizer and manure pollution. The recommendations offer a blueprint that other states can follow to protect public health and reduce agricultural pollution. We all depend on clean water, and this research helps chart a path forward.
Looking Ahead
Every win this year was fueled by people like you. Whether you volunteered, advocated, donated, or shared our work with someone who needed to hear it, your actions made a difference.
The Great Lakes hold the stories of millions of people who rely on them every day. When we protect these waters, we protect our collective future. And while there is much more to do, 2025 proved that steady, determined progress is not only possible but powerful.
Thank you for believing in clean, safe, and abundant water for all.