September 11 – Register for Mindfulness and Movement
Do you need a respite from your tireless advocacy work or a break from the back-to-school whirlwind? You are invited to focus on your own wellness with Freshwater Future next Thursday at our Mindfulness and Movement session! All are welcome at this free session led by trauma-based mindfulness expert Jonathan Relucio. Join us virtually for this monthly series, register today!
Will You Donate to Keep the Work Flowing?
For the last several weeks, the Freshwater Future staff, board, and partners have been raising awareness and donations to keep our work flowing. From 5Ks to paddling, we’re moving to ensure everyone has access to safe, clean water resources from source to tap. Will you make a big difference today and donate? Freshwater Future’s Walk Paddle and Roll Challenge goes through September to raise our goal of $8,000. Donate here!
Apply Now! Fall Project Grants Are Open
Is your advocacy project idea eligible for funding from Freshwater Future? The first step in pursuing a Freshwater Future Project Grant is to give us a call to determine if you are eligible! Fall Project Grants provide up to $5,000 in funding for local community organizations to protect drinking water, shorelines, inland lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin through grassroots advocacy efforts. Learn more about the application process, eligible projects, and more with these resources:
- Q&A webinar recording
- Request for Proposals flyer
- Grant Programs web page
- View our past projects here
The deadline for applications is Tuesday, September 30th. Contact Alana at (231) 348-8200, ext.6 or Alana@freshwaterfuture.org with any questions.
Win for Clean Water in Wisconsin
Similar to a recent win in the Michigan State Supreme Court, a Wisconsin State Appeals Court ruled that state regulators have the authority to issue strong permits to large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in order to protect our waters from manure runoff and spills. This is an important decision that will improve drinking water quality in private wells and community systems, as well as reducing the severity of toxic harmful algal blooms.
Take Actions: Together, Our Voices Make a Difference
Protect Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula’s Porcupine Mountains State Park
Through September, we have the opportunity to tell Michigan and federal senators and representatives to deny taxpayer funds for a proposed copper sulfide mine. A private, foreign mining company is seeking start-up costs at both the state and federal levels to open the Copperwood mine adjacent to one of the most cherished state parks in Michigan. Tell key decision-makers in the U.S. federal government to deny taxpayer handouts for this heavily-polluting extraction project. Michigan residents – please send Michigan lawmakers a message, too, asking them to deny two grants from next year’s budget. Both the Michigan legislature and U.S. Congress are required to make funding decisions by September 30th. Please use your voice today to protect nearby Lake Superior and the State Park from toxic pollution.
Delayed Public Safety Response to Pollution Event Upstream from Thunder Bay, Ontario
In late August, local residents and members of the Fort William First Nation noticed bad odors, unnatural colors and film, and thousands of dead fish along the Kaministiquia River, which empties into Lake Superior. Despite calls to local and provincial agencies, it took three days to confirm the presence of polluted discharge water and over 5 days to issue a public notice and safety precautions. The local paper mill has since taken responsibility, yet the province only handed it a violation and remedial action plan to fix the cause of the problem. The Fort William First Nation has taken on the responsibility to test the water quality where the river flows through their land, but the impact is already being felt by the residents that depend on those waters for sustenance, drinking, and recreation.
Job Opportunities
Freshwater Future shares partners and other organizations’ job opportunities. Check out current openings here. Email info@freshwaterfuture.org to add your organization’s open position!
