Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is an interagency program directed by the Environmental Protection Agency and co-sponsored by many agencies, including the US Forest Service, for the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. EPA funds administered through the Northeastern Area will support projects that implement high-priority remedial actions within Forest Service authorities. Successful projects will address near-shore health, nonpoint source pollution, and toxic substances that impact water quality in identified Areas of Concern.
Cover Letter with background and instructions.
Request for Proposal—Includes instructions for these program areas:
- Restore Urban and Community Forests—Use existing management plans and tree cover assessment tools to target tree planting activities that will reduce storm water runoff and improve water quality (Near-shore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution)
- Mitigate Emerald Ash Borer Impacts—Ash tree replacement with non-host species in quarantine areas to protect and restore biodiversity and water quality, and to reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff, especially phosphorus (Near-shore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution).
- Reduce Toxic Substances in Brownfield Sites - Utilize the planting of trees and vegetation to take up or trap contaminants and restore green infrastructure that will reduce storm-water runoff (Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern)
- Develop Ecosystem Services Markets - Demonstrate the ecological and economic value of forestry/green infrastructure watershed restoration work by monitoring and quantifying the impact of new or existing storm-water/green infrastructure, and transferring project results documenting measured/potential ecosystem service benefits to strategically identified constituencies. (Near Shore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution)
Application Form—Includes template for project submittal. |
