DUNKIRK – Congressman Tom Reed announced this week an increase in authorization of funds to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Reed, an original cosponsor of the legislation, says the measure was passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
“This initiative is an economic and environmental win for the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes that protects our water and environmental resources while also ensuring they remain a source of job creation for years to come,” Reed said. “We care about our water ways and environment, so it is only fair that we push for increased funding.”
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be authorized through 2026 and will increase to $375 million for fiscal year 2022. Afterward, it will increase funding each year until 2026 by $25 million.
Those dollars will go toward combating invasive species like hydrilla, restoring wetlands and other habitats, protecting wildlife, working on harmful algal blooms, cleaning up toxins and protecting watersheds.
The 23rd District, which includes the Lake Erie and the Great Lakes watersheds, has more than a dozen projects funded through the GLRI. The Finger Lakes are also a part of the Great Lakes Watershed.
Leave a Reply