Community groups continue to work on small but critical Great Lakes restoration projects this year, not content to wait for Congress to authorize funding for a sweeping restoration plan put forth by Great Lakes experts and leaders nearly two years ago.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes awarded $5,000 in mini grants, funded by the Joyce Foundation, to two members of its partner network in June--funds the groups were able to increase many times over by forming a variety of creative partnerships.

Through the years, grant recipients have reported significant progress on projects ranging from stream bank restoration to fish-stocking to improved storm water management strategies--projects highlighted during the annual Healing Our Waters conference that kicks off Thursday in Chicago.

2004: A Few Friends for the Environment of the World Rain Garden Project- Fearing changing land use could harm a Mason County, Mich., trout stream, an environmental group partnered with residents on a rain garden project that offers an alternative to traditional storm water management techniques which can actually harm water quality.

A Few Friends of the Environment and the World worked with residents to develop the rain garden project to safeguard the quality and quantity of water in the Lincoln River, which lies within the Pere Marquette watershed and ultimately discharges into Lake Michigan.

Community members learned the benefits of installing a rain garden as well as successfuly designs from a representative of Rain Gardens of West Michigan. After months of planning and public outreach, the group commenced the project using startup funds from the Alliance Partner Network grant program and resources from the Community Foundation of Mason County, Dow Chemical and West Shore Community College's Green Team.

The West Shore Community College rain garden project is highlighted at affew.net, as is a pamphlet with information about how others can install rain gardens.

2005: Perch America Wolf Lake Walleye-Stocking Program- The damage to native fisheries caused by invasive species, habitat destruction and pollution has been the impetus behind Perch America's work with Indiana regulators on a Wolf Lake walleye-stocking program since 1998.

The annual program, carried out in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, has two goals: Enhance native fisheries in Wolf Lake and maintain the presence of a strong predator fish that can feed on the round goby and other damaging, invasive species.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes helped fund the project in 2005, as did Perch America, Northwest Indiana Steelheaders, Lake County Fish and Game and the Hammond Parks Foundation.

2006: Friends of the Boyne River Stream Bank Stabilization Project- A well loved and worn fishing spot in northern Michigan received a boost from a $50,000 stream bank stabilization project that maintains public access while improving fish and wildlife habitat.

Situated at the mouth of the Boyne River, Old City Park was experiencing continued erosion because of its popularity as a fishing spot, and the crumbling stream bank was sending sediment into the river, harming fish and wildlife habitat.

Friends of the Boyne River launched a fundraising campaign for the bank stabilization project and sought out a variety of potential funding sources and partnerships to raise the $50,000 needed to carry out the project. More than 40 volunteers participated.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes contributed to the project in conjunction with the Charlevoix Community Foundation, Great Lakes Energy People Fund, Frey Foundation, Boyne City Garden Club, Boyne City Eagles, Buhr Foundation and the Little Traverse Bay of Odawa Indians.

2007: River Revitalization Foundation River Corridor Restoration Project- Working with urban youth during the summer of 2007, the River Revitalization Foundation restored native habitats between Gordon Park and Riverside Park along the Milwaukee River.

The foundation met its primary goals of removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native species, and educating minority youth about the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan Basin.

In addition to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the project was supplemented by a number of other supporters, among them the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and United Water. The city of Milwaukee funded crew members through its summer youth employment program.

2007: Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers Storm Water Runoff Reduction Project- Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers partnered with two other groups on a model storm water demonstration project in the Johnson's Park neighborhood that involved retrofitting a city block with sustainable storm water management strategies.

Disconnecting downspouts and redirecting the runoff into rain gardens and rain barrels, the project reduces the flow of storm water into the city's combined storm and sanitary sewer system and, in turn, curbs the number of sewage overflows into rivers and Lake Michigan after heavy rainfall.

Collaborating with American Rivers and the Milwaukee River Basin Partnership, the groups also educated homeowners about reducing storm water runoff pollution and monitored--as much as possible--the reduction in flows that resulted from the changes.

Contributors to the project, in addition to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, were the city of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Milwaukee River Basin Partnership.

Source: Alliance for the Great Lakes