For Friday, Feb.22, 2019

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1 – A project is seeking public input on spending $500,000 to help Lake Huron.  

The Bay Area Community Foundation has partnered with shoreline community foundations and conservation organizations from the United States and Canada.

The group is creating a plan of action based on recommendations from residents and stakeholders of Lake Huron communities.

People are invited to complete a short, 10-question survey by Feb. 28.

You can find the survey online at bayfoundation.org.

After reviewing public input, the foundation and its partners say they’ll use a $300,000 seed grant, matched with $200,000 regionally, to support proposed Great Lakes-Lake Huron protection efforts.

The partners aim to reduce the amount of polluted water that enters inland lakes and streams by providing resources and education related to stormwater management.

To learn more about the Lake Huron plan of action, see huronpines.org/glow.

2 – The federal government is up and running after one shutdown and the threat of a second.

Great Lakes advocates say a 2019 budget bill signed into law last week supports core programs to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

A spokesman for the Healing our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition says the bill’s Great Lakes’ spending will benefit people throughout the eight-state region.

It includes $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the same amount as last year.

There’s another $1.7 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, along with $1.2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, both the same as last year.

The Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act will receive $68 million, which is $5 million more than last year.

The U.S. Coast Guard plans to spend $5 million on a new ice breaker, and $2 million going to Asian carp research by the U.S. Geological Survey will focus on grass carp.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR. Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes