A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Muskegon Lake in Michigan has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Muskegon has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Paul Isely Erik Nordman Kendra Robbins Julie Cowie. Muskegon Lake Area of Concern Habitat Restoration Project: Socio-Economic Assessment Revisited. July 2020.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Muskegon, Michigan
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 39-46)
• Livability: Transforming Waterfronts Along the Muskegon Lakeshore
• Western Michigan Regional Shoreline Commission: Muskegon River Habitat Restoration at Veteran’s Memorial Park
• NOAA Fisheries: Muskegon Lake Nears Recovery After Years of Restoration
• MiBiz: Arts playing ‘huge role’ in shaping downtown Muskegon through pandemic
• WZZM Channel 13: A successful Muskegon festival season by the numbers
• WOOD Channel 8: ‘Hidden gem’ discovered: Muskegon Lake ripe for development
• FOX Channel 17: Great Lakes cruises bring passengers, revenue to Muskegon
• MLIVE: Marquette to Muskegon: Cruise ships bring big tourism dollars to the Great Lakes 
• Detroit Free Press: Cruise ships to visit Muskegon again after 2 years of COVID-19 cancelations

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Sheboygan River in Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Sheboygan has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. September 2018.

Other Resources

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Sheboygan River AOC
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Remediation and Restoration Projects for Sheboygan River AOC
• City of Sheboygan, Department of Planning and Development[Conversation]
• Healing our Waters/Great Lakes Coalition: Sheboygan River cleanup nears completion

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Ashtabula River in Ohio has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Ashtabula has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Ashtabula, Ohio. September 2018.
2. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Project Summary Report
• City of Ashtabula :The Ashtabula River Remedial Action Plan
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Plan a Visit/Find a Property—Ashtabula Scenic River
• Lift Bridge Community Association: Historic Ashtabula Harbor
• Ashtabula Star Beacon: Joyce tours Harbor Yak in anticipation of federal funds to rebuild Ferry Drive
• Ashtabula Star Beacon:Tourism numbers beating 2021
• Cleveland.com: From industrial powerhouse to tourist draw: 24 hours in Ashtabula’s fun, funky Bridge Street district
• Cleveland.com: Ashtabula’s Riverbend Hotel project back on track, with expected opening in spring 2023

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the St. Louis River bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Duluth has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Duluth, Minnesota
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 61-66)
• St. Louis River Alliance St. Louis River National Water Trail
• St. Louis River Alliance: St. Louis River Area of Concern Update: Kingsbury Bay/Grassy Point project completed!
• MPR News: Minnesota moves closer to completing St. Louis River restoration
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth rakes in record $12.4M in tourism revenue
• Duluth Star Tribune: Despite bump in tourism dollars, Duluth sees room for growth
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth’s tourism tax collection rebounds to pre-pandemic levels
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2020/Age and Sex

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Buffalo River in New York has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Buffalo has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Buffalo, New York
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 3-10)
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper [Conversation]
• New York State: Buffalo Billion—Buffalo Blueway
• Buffalo Rising: Completion of $2 Million Buffalo Blueway Public Access Project at DEC Ohio Street Site
• Buffalo Rising: The Newly Renovated Red Jacket Riverfront Natural Habitat Park/li>
• Buffalo News: When the Buffalo River Caught Fire
• Buffalo News: ‘Census Data Shows Buffalo Growing for the First Time in 70 Years
• U.S. Census Bureau: New York 2020/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2020/Age and Sex

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s annual magazine.

This is a quick summary of IISG’s opportunities and resources to help teachers and other educators increase their Great Lakes literacy, and ultimately that of their students.

Ecosystem Services Valuation in the Indiana Coastal Zone introduces this concept to coastal zone managers, policymakers, and valuation practitioners. Ecosystem services valuation allows decision makers to better address resource management challenges and communicate how actions can negatively or positively affect the public.

This story map relays key findings from the 2015 Lake Michigan field year of the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative. This digital, multi-media outreach tool is intended to convey research results to broad audiences including anglers, boaters, conservation groups, and other Lake Michigan stakeholders.

For more detailed information, visit Lake Michigan Health: A Deeper Dive