Thank You! Your #GivingTuesday Donations are Making a Difference in the Great Lakes Region
Thank you to our supporters for your impactful donations this #GivingTuesday. Your generosity helps protect the waters and communities we all depend on and love. The challenges to our Great Lakes region are pressing, but when we stand together, we can make a lasting difference. Every donation counts, and every voice matters—thank you for being part of this incredible effort.
It’s not too late to donate in 2024! To give a year-end gift, just click HERE to donate. Thank you, as always, for showing up for the Great Lakes!
Mail from Your Water Utility Won’t be a Holiday Card
Across the nation, residents are receiving letters from their water utility informing them if their water service line contains lead or if it is unknown whether it is lead. The letters were required to be sent out by mid-November 2024. We understand that these letters can be unclear, confusing, and frightening. If you receive a letter, there are some simple things you can do to keep you and your family safe–described in this guide developed by Freshwater Future.
What a Waste: Fighting for Freshwater, Not Lakes of Mine-Waste
WaterLegacy, Minnesota, is fighting hard to protect Lake Superior from the expansion of a taconite mine and processing facility. After the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources decided not to pursue a full environmental impact assessment of the project despite receiving over 1,300 comments on the project, WaterLegacy filed a lawsuit against the MDNR. The proposed expansion would build dams and a basin for the tailings (slurry of mine waste rock, processing chemicals, and water) that would sit 600 feet above and only a few miles from Lake Superior. Expanding the tailings basin without planning for extreme rain events from climate change poses a significant danger that could lead to dam failure, and release polluted water to nearby waters and Lake Superior.
“The current plan for expansion puts both human life and Lake Superior at risk. It is imperative that there be an independent investigation of the facts and risks and consideration of alternatives before a project like this goes forward” said Paula Maccabee, Advocacy Director and Counsel of WaterLegacy. Freshwater Future will keep you up to date as the Court of Appeals delivers their opinion in 90 days.
Save the Date: Join Us in Rochester, NY on March 27th, 2025, for All About Water
Join us on March 27th, 2025, in Rochester, New York for our 2025 All About Water Convening! We will be gathering our grassroots partners from across the region to learn, discuss, and create shared principles for water justice work such as replacing lead service lines, addressing harmful algal blooms, and more. Please share with your colleagues, friends, and fellow water protectors that call the Great Lakes home. We can’t wait to see you there!
