House Approves $475 Million for Great Lakes Restoration

The house past legislation last week approving $475 million towards resoring the Great Lakes. This, of course, is good news for all of us that have respect for our great lakes. I couldn't ever see myself living far from its shores and every penny that gets routed into restoration, prevention, and research is a penny well spent in my book.

The money will be broken down as follows:

• $147 million to clean up highly toxic rivers and harbors that feed into the lakes.

• $60 million to prevent and remove invasive species.

• $98 million to refurbish areas near shores and to prevent "non-point" pollution, such as fertilizer and oil run-off.

• $105 million to restore and protect habitat and wildlife.

• $65 million to monitor progress of cleanup.

I find it interesting that the lowest amount of money into invasive species prevention and removal.

Some of the more abbrasive invasives as of now (because I'm sure there are more to come...) are: Rusty Crawfish, Round Goby, Common Carp, Sea Lamprey, Alewife, Rainbow Smelt, and of course the dreaded Zebra and Quagga Mussels.

The money was part of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. It passed 254-173. -Detroit News