Revitalizing Local Waterfront Economies: The Great Lakes Legacy Act is a new video that welcomes people and partners to the benefits of restoring degraded rivers, harbors, and lakes.
 
Before modern-day environmental regulations, Great Lakes waterways became blighted by decades of industrial discharges. The Legacy Act was established in 2002 to clean up contamination in these places, known as Areas of Concern. The Legacy Act is helping to revitalize local waterfront economies through strong partnerships with states, municipalities, and businesses.
 
Altogether, the Legacy program has removed or capped 2.4 million cubic yards of sediment. But more waterways need to be cleaned up, and community involvement is essential. “This video can help simplify and personalize the sediment cleanup process, which at first glance may seem too complex and scientific,” said Caitie McCoy, IISG environmental social scientist. “The Great Lakes Legacy Act has been incorporating community values with technical science for more than a decade.
 
“Cleaner lakes and rivers improve human health, fish and wildlife health, recreation, tourism, and redevelopment so that residents can better capitalize on these opportunities,” added McCoy.


 

The 10-minute video was produced by IISG and Wisconsin Sea Grant with funding from U.S. EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. You can view the video online here or at the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant YouTube channel
 

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When participating in a crayfish participatory science activity, be sure to snap plenty of photos of any crayfish you catch or observe. Not only is it a great way to capture the fun and excitement of the day, but it also helps document the species present. To ensure accurate identification by scientists, it’s important to provide clear photos from multiple angles. Dorsal (top), lateral (side), and ventral (underside) views of the crayfish should always be photographed.To learn more about the specific features to highlight in your photos visit the link in bio or InvasiveCrayfish.org/Management/#Community
Who says “Back to School” means back indoors? While the weather is still warm, take your students on an outdoor science adventure by exploring crayfish in your local waterways.The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative invites grades 2-12 educators to take part in a hands-on participatory science activity. By catching, identifying, and reporting crayfish species in your area, students contribute valuable data that helps scientists better understand where native and invasive crayfish live.Check out what other educators have found and get involved: inaturalist.org/projects/great-lakes-crayfish
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