CLMP Volunteer Gets National Press

Longtime CLMP volunteer, Ralph Vogel, is slated to be featured in the upcoming Summer 2009 issue of the Volunteer Monitor, a national publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Volunteer Monitor Project on volunteer water quality monitoring. Be sure to check it out and read about Ralph’s work at: www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/issues.htm.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding

As mentioned in the last issue of the MiCorps Monitor, President Obama’s FY2010 budget proposed $475 million in funding for Great Lakes restoration in the form of a new Environmental Protection Agency-led, interagency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Efforts under this initiative will target significant problems in the region, including invasive species, nonpoint source pollution, and contaminated sediment. The latest information from the EPA states that over $250 million of these funds will be awarded through competitive grants and project agreements to non-federal entities for implementation of restoration activities. Be sure to check out the EPA’s website to learn more about this opportunity and to stay up-to-date on the timing of Requests for Proposals for possible funding to entities within the state. An anticipatory RFP is expected to be announced by EPA in late August. Community groups, local units of government, watershed councils, and other nongovernmental entities can apply. So start forming your project ideas and teams!

Author:
Laura Kaminski
MiCorps Staff
Great Lakes Commission