Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is helping guide the federally endangered piping plover on the path to recovery. 2025 saw the highest number of nesting pairs since the species was first listed in 1986.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and a network of partners, using funding provided through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, have helped this once-devasted fishery make a stunning recovery.

The updated Interactive Water Quality Dashboard includes data through 2023 and adds chloride to the existing database of water quality variables.

The Great Lakes are one of the most unique freshwater ecosystems in the world – but are also heavily threatened by biological invaders. Aquatic invasive and nuisance species are the plants and animals from other regions of the globe that accidentally get brought to the Great Lakes, potentially destroying the local ecosystem. Many species pose a significant threat to the Great Lakes environment and economy, from sea lamprey that devastate prized fisheries, zebra mussels that encrust underwater infrastructure, and aquatic weeds that entangle boat motors and swimmers alike.

The release of a new tool depicting bathymetric data and benthic habitat mapping for the Great Lakes Basin is released by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management.

Using eDNA to detect new Great Lakes invasive species.

A Gary, Indiana green infrastructure project reduces city hall parking lot stormwater runoff to Lake Michigan by over 80 percent.