Congress Continues Its Bipartisan Commitment to the Great Lakes, Birds that Depend on Them

(February 23, 2026) The Nice Lakes kind the biggest recent floor water system on Earth, offering habitat for thousands and thousands of birds and consuming water for 40 million individuals. Congress continued its bipartisan dedication to defending this globally vital ecosystem by passing a package deal of spending payments that can fund components of the federal government via September 30. This package deal contains $369 million for the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative—a $1 million improve for this system that’s the largest supply of federal funding to guard the Nice Lakes.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is an indispensable supply of funding for Audubon and our companions for restoring and conserving greater than 10,000 acres of wetland habitat for susceptible marsh birds, just like the Least Bittern and Pied-billed Grebe. Over the previous three many years, Nice Lakes populations of breeding marsh birds have declined considerably, however restoration of the habitats they want throughout the Nice Lakes area helps to deliver them again.

One shining instance is our historic wetlands restoration undertaking at Powderhorn Lake Forest Protect on Chicago’s Southeast Facet.  With greater than $1 million in GLRI assist, Audubon Nice Lakes, the Forest Protect District of Cook dinner County, Nice Lakes Fee, and Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reconnected two lakes to revive marsh habitat, cut back flooding in close by communities, and enhance water high quality. The multi-year effort demonstrates how ecological restoration and neighborhood resilience go hand-in-hand.

Throughout the area, GLRI is funding our work with companions and native communities at locations together with:  

• Hatcher Park and Marshalltown Marsh within the Calumet area of Indiana 

• Allouez Bay within the St. Louis River Estuary area of Wisconsin 

• Cat Island within the Inexperienced Bay Area of Wisconsin 

• Lakeview Wildlife Administration Space in Jap Lake Ontario, New York 

• Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Space in Saginaw Bay, Michigan 

These are simply the tasks that Audubon is instantly concerned in. Since its creation, the GLRI has directed billions of {dollars} to Nice Lakes restoration, supporting greater than 7,000 restoration tasks that enhance water high quality, restore wetlands, strengthen coastal resilience and defend hen and wildlife habitat. Continued and elevated funding will be certain that this progress stays sturdy, leading to cleaner water, more healthy ecosystems, and extra resilient Nice Lakes communities. 

We’re grateful to Congress for working collectively to discover a path ahead to safe funding this yr, however our work is much from over. The GLRI program is ready to run out on the finish of 2026. We urge Congress to proceed working collectively to reauthorize and develop funding for this crucial program by passing the GLRI Reauthorization Act. Doing so will assist to safeguard many years of progress and make sure the Nice Lakes proceed to thrive for each the birds and the folks that depend upon them.