UW-Oshkosh gets first round Great Lakes restoration funding

GREEN BAY – Northeastern Wisconsin is in line to get some of the first in a series of federal grants aimed at protecting the Great Lakes. It's part of a $475 million restoration program passed by Congress earlier this year.

Seven grants totaling more than $5.25 million were awarded to communities in northeastern Wisconsin.

These were among the first announced in the Great Lakes states. The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency was on hand to make the announcement in Green Bay. Lisa Jackson says more money is likely on the way to the state. She says Wisconsin is likely to receive more than $29 million through 50 grants spread throughout the state, to help cleanup local waters and wetlands."

Jackson says the first round of grants is going to UW-Oshkosh, Oconto County, and several projects in Green Bay. She says the grants will protect and enhance Duck Creek and lower Green Bay through construction of three new barrier islands.

“They'll reduce harmful agricultural runoff and protect Northern Wisconsin's extensive wetlands by installing buffer strips."

Also on hand for the announcement was U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, a Democrat in a heated re-election race. While he did not appear with President Barack Obama at a Labor Day event earlier this week, Feingold was there to voice his support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and for more environmental protections. He says the Clean Water Act has been weakened by a couple of Supreme Court decisions that have “diminished its authority.”

Feingold says the health of the Great lakes is “essential to the health of our state."

There's no timeline as to when the rest of the restoration grants will be announced.

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