Request for Proposals: Freshwater Future’s Spring Project Grants
Calling all water protectors! Does your group need funding to advocate for drinking water, river, lake, shoreline, wetland, or groundwater protection in the Great Lakes region? Freshwater Future’s Spring Project Grants program is accepting applications until March 31st. These grants provide financial support up to $5,000 for grassroots advocacy efforts that promote water protection. For more information including examples of advocacy projects, please see our Q&A webinar recording or contact Alana Honaker, alana@freshwaterfuture.org or (231) 348-8200 ext. 6. Learn more here!
Meet Freshwater Future’s Fall Grantees: Water Watchers
After their long-fought battle to protect Ontario’s waters from water bottling operations, our Fall Grantees at the Water Watchers are fighting to keep our freshwater systems free of salt! As a coordinator of the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, they are activating a network of grassroots advocates and organizations to promote responsible salt use through peer-to-peer education and municipal advocacy. This coalition was born out of Freshwater Future’s Great Lakes Network and continues to support place-based actions to reduce salt pollution from the local to provincial level with strategies, communication materials, and training. You too can become a grant recipient to support your impactful work by applying to our Spring Project Grants (see above)!
Registration Extended: Join Us in Rochester, NY for All About Water on March 27th!
Date: Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | registration begins at 8:00 am | Breakfast & lunch provided with registration
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology Inn
Agenda: Available here!
Advocates Work for Improvements in the Steel Industry
The Great Lakes region has a long history of steel production. Currently, all the U.S. coal-based steel plants and all but one coke plant are in Great Lakes states. Although the coal-based steel and coke production industry provides valued jobs, it also delivers disproportionate health impacts and pollutants, according to a recent report by Industrious Labs. Pollution from these sites has been linked to increased rates of asthma and other health problems. In Gary, Indiana, the community-based organization, Gary Advocates for Responsible Development (GARD), is urging the region’s steel manufacturers to shift to using updated, less polluting steel production technology and non-fossil fuel-based energy.
Map courtesy of Industrious Labs
Register – Freshwater Heroes Celebration: February 26, 2025 | Noon ET
Every year, Freshwater Future recognizes exceptional advocates and organizations doing amazing work for the waters and people in our Great Lakes region. This year, we will be celebrating our amazing Freshwater Heroes on February 26th at noon ET. Register here to join us at this live virtual event to meet our heroes and hear their stories. This event is free and everyone is welcome.
Register to Join Us for Movement & Mindfulness on February 27, 2025
Freshwater Future staff welcome you to join us for trauma-informed mindfulness and movement led by our practitioner Jonathan Relucio. Jonathan, a mindfulness expert with 20+ years of experience, will lead us through 45 minutes of practice tailored towards the wellness of water justice advocates like you. This event is free and open to the public, we hope to see you there! Register here!
Update: Black Lake Sturgeon Season Lasts 17 Minutes–Sets Record for Shortest Time!
Michigan’s Black Lake, spearing season for lake sturgeon set a record last Saturday, lasting only 17 minutes. The season ended after 6 lake sturgeon were pulled from the lake, but the celebration of the conservation efforts to restore this fishery continued throughout the day.
