• A community-based, volunteer partnership organization

Hot Topics

The MLWP is a coalition of voluntary partners and individuals with many diverse interests and priorities.

One thing we have in common is our love of natural resources and a desire to take care of them. We try to stay on top of important Muskegon Lake and Great Lakes news and priorities.

If you have a hot topic that you think would be of interest to community members, please send an e-mail to Kathy@muskegonlake.org.  We will research it and list it here as a hot topic.

Great Lakes

Latest News

Michigan’s water resources face a number of threats from invasive species, urban and rural runoff, nonpoint source pollution, legacy contamination, emerging pollutants and changes in climate. You can help protect our water resources! The Muskegon Lake Action Plan was developed in coordination with the Great Lakes Action Plan and the Michigan Water Strategy.  The Strategy is a 30-year plan for Michiganders to protect, manage, and enhance Michigan’s water resources for current and future generations. The Strategy identifies key actions for actors at many levels to promote healthy water resources. It is organized around nine goals and outcomes designed to ensure the viability and sustainability of Michigan’s water resources over time, placing Michigan on a path to achieving its water vision in a way the that builds economic capacity while sustaining ecological integrity of this globally-significant resource.

Check out this website for more information on the strategy and the latest news about Great Lakes restoration in Michigan:
https://www.michigan.gov/ogl/0,9077,7-362-85258—,00.html

MLWP | Grand Trunk Concept Plan

Public Access

The MLWP believes that public access to natural resources provides people with an opportunity to appreciate, enjoy, understand and value the benefits of natural resources. This connection with nature promotes a stewardship ethic for communities, residents and those who use the resource for recreation and commerce.  Access improvement needs include areas for shore angling, ADA accessibility, walkability from neighborhoods to shorelines, motorized launches, recreational boating and sailing, small boat, canoe, and kayak launches, public parks and picnic areas, boardwalks, fishing, and birding platforms, bike paths, water trails and hiking trails.

The MLWP formed a Public Access Committee to prioritize access areas for these purposes. Communities that maintain and enhance natural areas are more resilient and their economies are more sustainable. The availability of public access to Muskegon Lake and the water resources throughout its watershed enhances quality of life, economic, and cultural values. The Muskegon Lake Action Plan goal for Public Access to Natural Resources is: An increase in the public’s understanding of, appreciation for and stewardship of the watershed’s natural resources. The public has access to natural areas and enhanced opportunities for interaction with the Muskegon lake/Muskegon River/Lake Michigan Ecosystem. The outcome to be achieved by meeting this goal is for the public to have access to abundant open space, shorelines, water resources and natural features.

Select the map below to view a larger version of the Publicly Owned Parcels on Muskegon Lake map.

MLWP | Public Parcels Map of Muskegon Lake
Great Lakes Priorities

Great Lakes Priorities

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) coordinates federal agency resources to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

Each year, Congress appropriates GLRI funding to EPA, which then transfers a significant portion of the GLRI funds to other federal agencies. The funds are used to implement projects that address the most important Great Lakes priorities.  An additional $20 million was recently added to the GLRI and will be used for the following priorities:

Great Lakes Action Plan III Priorities:

  • Accelerate the Cleanup and Restoration of Great Lakes AOCs ($7.5 million): The additional funds will be targeted to significant sediment remediation and habitat restoration projects to help meet the aggressive goals in GLRI Action Plan III to remediate, restore and delist U.S. AOCs.
  • Fund Research and Development of Ballast Water Treatment Systems ($5 million): The additional funds will support further invasive species prevention by funding research and development of ballast water treatment systems for cargo vessels that operate primarily, but not exclusively, within the Great Lakes.
  • Support the Great Lakes Trash Free Waters Grant Program ($2 million): The additional funds will continue efforts to provide healthy habitat for fish and wildlife by keeping trash out of the Great Lakes.
  • Support Great Lakes states activities to reduce excess nutrient loads, restore habitat, and control and prevent invasive species ($5 million): The additional funds will be targeted for the highest priorities of the Great Lakes states to reduce excess nutrient loads, protect or restore habitat, and prevent and control aquatic invasive species such as Asian carp.
  • Support Great Lakes National Program Office operations ($500,000): Additional funds are needed to support operations in the Great Lakes National Program Office.

Check out the Great Lakes Action Plan III PDF HERE.