EPA Plots Plan to Restore Great Lakes

The plan will unfold over the next five years, at a cost of $475 million. A major effort will be aimed at combating invasive and non-native species.

"Federal and state officials call the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan "historically unprecedented" in size, funding and coordination between branches of government.

The plan calls itself light on study and heavy on action, seeking to heal the Great Lakes ecosystem from '150 years of abuse' and to ensure that 'fish are safe to eat; the water is safe to drink; the beaches and waters are safe for swimming, surfing, boating and recreating; native species and habitats are protected and thriving; no community suffers disproportionately from the impacts of pollution; and the Great Lakes are a healthy place for people and wildlife to live.'"