news release
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
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Whether you drink from the tap or with a view of the lake, water and health go hand in hand in Michigan.
That’s the message of this year’s Michigan Great Lakes and Freshwater Week (GLFWW), taking place Saturday, June 1 through Sunday, June 9. The annual event, presented by the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and partners, will focus on events and resources related to the physical, mental and spiritual health of our connection to water, and continue to engage with the enjoyment, recreation, appreciation, stewardship and protection of the Great Lakes, its environment and communities.
“Michigan is home to 21 percent of the world’s fresh surface water, and the Great Lakes are at its heart,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “On Great Lakes and Freshwater Week, let us renew our commitment to protecting the waters that are so important to our state’s economy and the future of our planet and humanity. Together, we can be better stewards of this incredible natural resource and build a brighter future for our children.”
Governor Whitmer commissioned the MI Healthy Climate Plan in 2020 as a broad roadmap to a prosperous, clean energy future for Michigan. The plan includes a provision called “30 by 30,” which would protect 30 percent of the state’s lands and waters by 2030 to maintain recreational access and biodiversity, and naturally absorb greenhouse gas emissions.
Michigan boasts more than 3,200 miles of shoreline along four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes and ponds, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and enough groundwater to refill Lake Michigan. More than 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water.
EGLE and its Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) sponsor GLFWW in partnership with the DNR and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).
The week will focus on ways everyone can be involved in Michigan’s water and well-being through responsible exploration and fun, learning about freshwater systems and how our actions impact them, and preparing for rewarding careers in Michigan’s water-centered blue economy.
“I know that, like me, many Michiganders are grateful for a week of satisfaction in the beauty and bounty of our lakes, rivers and streams and reflecting on their value in our lives,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “As we bike, walk or canoe on Michigan’s waters, we understand that these incredible resources bring great rewards as well as great responsibilities.”
“The Great Lakes and freshwater are amazing and inseparable natural elements that define Michigan,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “Countless benefits flow from these precious resources every day, and the need to responsibly protect and conserve them cannot be overstated.”
“We only have one water, and there’s no substitute for the abundance, enjoyment and serenity that water brings to our lives,” said Amy O’Leary, executive director of SEMCOG. “SEMCOG is proud to partner with the Great Lakes Authority this Great Lakes and Freshwater Week to celebrate the health benefits of access to freshwater in southeast Michigan and across the state, while also honoring and celebrating all the water champions who are making a real difference in the health and wellness of our lakes, rivers and streams.”
This year’s theme is to encourage Michiganders to reflect on what the Great Lakes and freshwater mean to them personally and to their mental and physical health, and EGLE encourages visitors to share photos and thoughts on social media using the hashtag #MIGreatLakesWeek or on EGLE’s Facebook page.
Michiganders can fish and explore trails for free on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9. During these two days, the DNR is waiving the need for fishing licenses, off-road vehicle licenses, trail permits and recreational passports for entry to Michigan state parks and boat launches.
Reading for pleasure and knowledge is another way to enjoy the connection between water and health, and local libraries offer a number of “beach books” (or books you can read anywhere) that focus on Michigan’s oceans.
The Great Lakes Library and partners have selected two books for this year’s inaugural “Great Lakes, Great Reads” program: “The Water Walker” by Joan Robertson for children and “The Best Part of Us” by Sally Cole Misch for adults.
Meanwhile, “Adventures Start at the Library!™” is packed with lake adventures for readers of all ages. The Michigan State Library’s searchable Read Michigan BiblioBoard lists 113 e-books related to the Great Lakes, all of which are part of the State Library’s Michigan Featured Books selection. The library suggests using the hashtags #MiLibraries and #MiSummerReading for social posts about your reading list.
And you can always read EGLE’s fascinating and information-packed 2023 Michigan Great Lakes Report.
More information about GLFWW can be found on OGL’s Stewarding the Great Lakes webpage, which includes links to local events, videos, educational resources on topics such as identifying invasive species and properly disposing of old medicines, and how to volunteer with the Michigan Clean Water Corps. There are many ways to get involved.
- Join SEMCOG’s One Water campaign, developed in partnership with the Great Lakes Water Authority to raise public awareness and mutual shared responsibility for our water resources. The campaign runs June 1-9.
- Join our water webinar virtually:
- Join us on Tuesday, June 4 at 1 pm for the EGLE webinar, “Nibi Tribal Wisdom for Ecosystems: The Manoomin People and the Circle of Life,” to learn about the cultural and ecological importance of water (Nibi) and wild rice (Manoomin) to the Ojibwa and Anishinabe peoples.
- Emily Finnell, Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist for the Great Lakes Authority, will moderate a webinar titled, “Fostering Connections to Michigan’s Water Wonderlands for Health and Stewardship,” on Thursday, June 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Panelists include consultant, keynote speaker, author and filmmaker Mike Shoreman, psychologist Dr. Michael Comer, Dr. Debra Pinals, medical director for Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Tim Novak, Trails Division Chief for the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division. Participants will discuss how spending time near the water can improve health, as well as available resources and initiatives to improve mental health and increase access to the Great Lakes and Michigan’s lakes, rivers and streams for people of all abilities.
- Watch the recording of the SEMCOG webinar titled “Leveraging the One Water Campaign in Your Community,” held on May 22. The webinar provides valuable insight into how local governments can educate residents about Southeast Michigan’s water resources through the One Water campaign. The link can be found on SEMCOG’s One Water page.
- Check out EGLE’s Webinar Series and Past Events and Recorded Webinars webpages for more past and upcoming water-related webinars.
- Engage with EGLE, DNR and SEMCOG on social media for news, information and insights about the water-health nexus (#MIGreatLakesWeek).
- Check out SEMCOG’s social media pages every day during GLFWW for water trivia and to find out more about water resources and water quality.
- Educators, check out our “From Students to Stewards” toolkit of place-based education resources to inspire students to learn about water resources and protect our lakes and streams.
- Public officials can check out the Michigan League of Cities Foundation’s MI Water Navigator website for a guide to finding infrastructure funding opportunities.
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