Built on 82 interviews, this comprehensive report offers clues to advancing Great Lakes protections into the future.

A University of Michigan graduate research team has released the first-ever comprehensive study of the history, coordination, and evolution of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), backed by 82 interviews with key Great Lakes leaders. The study revealed that impactful environmental initiatives, like the GLRI, are rarely a product of isolated actions or political opportunities. Rather, they result from a combination of culture, advocacy, leadership, strategy, collaboration, and funding.

Established in 2010, the GLRI serves as the cornerstone for Great Lakes protection and restoration and is widely regarded as one of the most successful environmental initiatives in the world. The program has invested over $5 billion into the Great Lakes and has supported over 8,000 projects within the region, providing significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. 

The GLRI is now due for reauthorization, with the U.S. House of Representatives having voted in March to reauthorize the program and the legislation now awaiting action in the Senate. This marks a pivotal moment to reflect on the GLRI’s history and impact to ensure its continued success. The study provides this opportunity, all while offering an unprecedented look into the convergence of forces that drives one of the most successful environmental restoration efforts in U.S. history. 

“This research matters because the past informs the future,” said Marc Gaden, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability, Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and advisor on the project.

“Understanding how the GLRI came to be is critical for shaping the future of the Great Lakes and other watersheds worldwide,” Gaden said. “As one of the most successful and bipartisan initiatives, the GLRI shows how collaboration, advocacy, and investment can protect and restore vital freshwater resources that millions of people depend on.” 

To dive into the GLRI’s history, the team interviewed a total of 82 Great Lakes restoration contributors from a wide range of sectors, including non-governmental organization leaders, Tribal representatives, and former and current Great Lakes elected officials, such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 

Key findings from the research that identify what makes the GLRI successful: 

• Strong culture and regional identity shared by advocates drives their desire to protect the Great Lakes
• Groundwork to remove the toughest obstacles and lessen further environmental harm in the Great Lakes through the establishment of pollution regulations and standards
• Power of convening and long-term planning to cultivate widespread support
• Building a diverse coalition of allies, including non-governmental organizations, foundations, businesses, Tribal representatives, elected officials, and local, state, and regional agencies
• Modeling success from other initiatives, specifically lessons learned from restoration efforts in the Everglades and the Chesapeake Bay
• Clear and compelling messaging that focuses on the economic, environmental, and social benefits of GLRI-funded restoration 
• Collaborative communication networks between Great Lakes governing bodies contribute to the GLRI’s consistency, impact, and adaptability
• Leveraging political opportunities, particularly the 2008 election, which elevated Great Lakes restoration as a national priority

“While some of the lessons are unique to the Great Lakes, many are transferable to environmental efforts across the globe,” said Mike Shriberg, Director of the University of Michigan Water Center and Professor of Practice & Engagement at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability, who served as an advisor on the project. “This work shows that strategic advocacy, coordination, and persistence can drive real, lasting change.” 

The research was guided by a steering committee of Great Lakes leaders, and sponsored by the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“Support for the GLRI has been overwhelmingly bipartisan, largely because the program produces tangible results for the environment, the economy, and local communities,” said Joel Brammeier, president & CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “That success is rooted in collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting the Great Lakes.” 

The team underscores that the future of the Great Lakes and other watersheds depends on continued leadership, collaboration, and engagement from the public.

“Our historical analysis shows that Great Lakes restoration has always been driven by a deep love and appreciation for the lakes,” said Camryn Hurley, a graduate student at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability and member of the student research team. “When they’re threatened, people act. Leadership from decision-makers is essential, but so is continued support for the science, agencies, and communities that sustain this work.” 

Read the final report to learn more about the combination of factors that shaped Great Lakes restoration and how lessons from the GLRI can inform environmental initiatives around the world. Additional details and resources can be found on the project’s website. 

Read more on the Michigan News website.