great lakes

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton Helps Release Rescued Endangered Sea Turtle Back into Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton Helps Release Rescued Endangered Sea Turtle Back into Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island

Event highlights the ocean health benefits of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

Coney Island, NY, Aug. 6, 2025—New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton joined the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS), elected officials, and environmental leaders to release a rehabilitated Kemp’s ridley sea turtle back into the Atlantic Ocean outside the New York Aquarium. The event celebrated the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) that helps protect and restore the health of the state’s ocean and coasts.

Cheese manufacturer polluted water for months before Ischua Creek die-off

Cheese manufacturer polluted water for months before Ischua Creek die-off

Great Lakes Cheese often polluted Ischua Creek, data shows

It has been nearly a month since the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began investigating wastewater discharge from Great Lakes Cheese that likely killed tens of thousands of fish and countless other aquatic species in Ischua Creek.

Push on to pass NY packaging reduction bill

Push on to pass NY packaging reduction bill

Local and statewide environmental advocates are extremely concerned New York state assembly leaders are going to leave Albany next week without approving a packaging reduction bill that they say would cut plastic waste, improve public health and reduce costs for taxpayers.

Another Voice: A clean environment strengthens the economy

Another Voice: A clean environment strengthens the economy

The notion that we must choose between a clean environment and a strong economy is an antiquated myth that was debunked decades ago. Decades of experience and peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that what’s good for our environment also drives economic development, saves families money and saves lives.

Senators Young, Peters lead effort to Protect the Great Lake

Senators Young, Peters lead effort to Protect the Great Lake

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025, legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 to help protect and preserve the Great Lakes. 

Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Great Lakes Restoration Funding

Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Great Lakes Restoration Funding

Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) and his colleagues on the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the FY 2026 authorization level from $475 million to $500 million starting in FY 2027.

Dingell Introduces Legislation to Reauthorize Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Dingell Introduces Legislation to Reauthorize Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and her colleagues on the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the FY 2026 authorization level from $475 million to $500 million starting in FY 2027. 

Great Lakes Plover Protectors Meet With DC Lawmakers

Great Lakes Plover Protectors Meet With DC Lawmakers

This spring, through our Audubon in the Parks partnership and as NY co-lead for the Healing Our Waters coalition, Audubon hosted three young conservationists from the Great Lakes basin to attend "Great Lakes Day 2024" in Washington D.C., where they were invited to share their stories and passion for the health of the Great Lakes with legislators.

Senators Stabenow and Peters introduce legislation to extend Great Lakes protections

Senators Stabenow and Peters introduce legislation to extend Great Lakes protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends this critical program for another five years through 2031, and increases annual funding levels from $475 million in 2026 to $500 million from 2027 through 2031.

Another Voice: New York has much more work to do to protect clean water

Another Voice: New York has much more work to do to protect clean water

Under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s leadership, New York has been a national leader in funding the protection of clean water, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Given the massive clean water needs that exist throughout New York, it’s perplexing that the governor proposed to slash clean water funding by 50%, from $500 million down to $250 million, in this year’s budget.

Gillibrand introduces bipartisan legislation to extend Great Lakes’ protections

Gillibrand introduces bipartisan legislation to extend Great Lakes’ protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and members of the Great Lakes Task Force today introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends this critical program for another five years through 2031, and increases annual funding levels from $475 million in 2026 to $500 million from 2027 through 2031.

Huizenga, Dingell, Joyce, and Kaptur Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Key Great Lakes Funding Program

Huizenga, Dingell, Joyce, and Kaptur Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Key Great Lakes Funding Program

Today, U.S. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and members of the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2024. The bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the current authorization level from $475 million to $500 million in FY 2026.

DEC Announces New Leadership Appointments

DEC Announces New Leadership Appointments

DEC Names Chief Resiliency Officer, Director of Indian Nation Affairs, Regional Director for Region 7, Director of Media Relations

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced four appointments to new and existing leadership positions with DEC's Executive and Regional teams.

Another Voice: Our waterways and communities are drowning in plastic pollution

Another Voice: Our waterways and communities are drowning in plastic pollution

There have been misleading messages about the legislation currently being considered by the state legislature, known as the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246/A.5322). The simple fact is that the proposed policy would begin to reduce plastic pollution in our Great Lakes and increase recycling, all while saving taxpayers money.

Not-so-Great Lake: Health of Lake Erie is poor, according to U.S. and Canada

Not-so-Great Lake: Health of Lake Erie is poor, according to U.S. and Canada

Lake Erie rebounded after being declared dead in the 1960s because of pollution controls that were put in place in the Clean Water Act.

But today, the assessment of the ecosystem for Erie, one of the smallest of the Great Lakes, is poor. And the State of the Great Lakes Report by the U.S. and Canadian governments deems Ontario fair, but improving.

Four WNY sites are named as part of a billion dollar investment to clean up Great Lakes waterways

Four WNY sites are named as part of a billion dollar investment to clean up Great Lakes waterways

More federal money is heading toward the cleanup of four Western New York waterways, Congressman Brian Higgins and representatives of government and public environmentalist entities announced Friday.

The federal government is announcing $1 billion from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law will be spent to clean and delist 22 designated “Areas of Concern” throughout the Great Lakes. Included on the list are the Buffalo River, Niagara River, 18 Mile Creek and Rochester Embayment.

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