Water is Life Festival
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
Petoskey, Michigan
Celebrate water this Saturday at the Water is Life Festival with art, music, food, and community, held at the Petoskey Waterfront. The event is free to attend and is open 12-9 pm. Register now to have a chance at winning locally-provided door prizes! Join us and stop by the Freshwater Future table for valuable information and the opportunity to weigh in on Great Lakes issues and a chance to win Patagonia gear!
Win! Pressure Forces U.S. Federal Government to Restart Invasive Carp Project
Thanks to you, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to restart a critical Great Lakes protection project. Pressure from advocates and some Great Lakes governors made it clear that the Brandon Road Interbasin Project in Illinois must continue for the sake of the entire Great Lakes basin.
Quarry Expansion in Ontario, Despite Community Wishes
An expansion of an aggregate quarry was recently approved in Burlington, ON, despite widespread opposition from the City, residents, and environmental groups. Ontario Land Tribunal approved the project, stating the company had satisfactorily addressed threats to groundwater, air emissions, quality of life, and other public health concerns. The local community submitted more than 1,600 pages of written comments, with nearly all opposing the proposal. Next steps for the City of Burlington are a legal review of the decision and identifying additional approvals needed.
Copperwood Mine Update
Last week, a proposed mining project near Lake Superior received a $50 million boost from the Michigan state economic development agency. After failing three times to secure this grant from the Michigan legislature, the Michigan Strategic Fund Board moved ahead to pay out the grant itself by using older, unspent taxpayer funds. A former Board member has publicly questioned this decision.
Protect the Porkies is continuing to raise awareness of the environmental risks to Lake Superior and the adjacent Porcupine Mountain State Forest from the proposed mine. Freshwater Future will continue to keep you informed on this issue and steps for taking action.
Funding Available for Your Water Work
Freshwater Future’s Fall Project Grants cycle is open until September 30th and we are looking for grassroots advocacy projects that will make a permanent change throughout the Great Lakes! Your local community organization could receive up to $5,000 in funding to protect drinking water, shorelines, inland lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater throughout the region. Learn more about the application process, eligible projects, and more with these resources:
- View a previous Q&A webinar
- Read our RFP here
- Visit our Grants page
- Look over past projects to get a feel for what we are looking for
Contact Lindsey at (231) 348-8200, ext. 110, or Lindsey@freshwaterfuture.org with any questions.
Upcoming Online and In-Person Events
Better Together: Facilitation & Meeting Basics
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11 am CT / 12 pm ET
Protecting water often requires holding meetings. Join Freshwater Future on September 15th to gain some tips on effective meeting facilitation and design. You will learn how to create meetings that are outcome-driven, engaging for participants, and offer space for everyone to contribute ideas. This hour-long online session will give you practical tips and tools to take into your next meeting. Register here!
Relax with Mindfulness and Movement
Working to protect water is demanding. Join us for our Mindfulness & Movement session, a 45-minute guided session with Jonathan Relucio, to relax and restore. Can’t join? Registrants can access past session recordings here – contact alana@freshwaterfuture.org for the password. All sessions start at 10:30 am CT / 11:30 am ET.
Wednesday, September 16th Session
