resources

The Lake Level Viewer is an interactive online visualization mapping tool that allows users to visualize lake level changes in the Great Lakes that range from six feet above to six feet below historical long-term average water levels, as well as potential shoreline and coastal impacts. This tool is intended to help communities plan for and adapt to climate change and the accompanying changes in lake water levels.

WEMo (Wave Exposure Model) is a simple hydrodynamic model that calculates the wind wave exposure of a site (Murphey and Fonseca 1995, Fonseca and Bell 1998). WEMo helps coastal managers and ecologists with tasks of estimate wave parameters in coastal and estuarine environments since hydrodynamic factors can profoundly impact the environment in coastal areas. This involves estimating the wave energy reaching the shoreline taking into account the effects of wind, local topography and bottom.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) assist in the building of programs to protect, manage and restore wetlands. WPDGs provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution.

The Michigan Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program provides grant funds to coastal communities and partners to assist in the development of vibrant and resilient coastal communities through the protection and restoration of sensitive coastal resources and biologically diverse ecosystems.

The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) is a community-based, voluntary initiative that connects people, resources, organizations, and programs. The group is working to improve the quality of life in the area by developing projects, supporting related organizations, and developing the region's identity as a sustainable community.

WIN accepts proposals for projects that advance its work within five focus areas:

The Great Lakes Coastal Program provides funding and technical assistance to partners for conservation and restoration of priority coastal fish and wildlife habitats, including wetlands, shorelines, uplands, rivers, and streams. Projects should fit into one of the following categories:

Habitat Restoration: Projects that support on-the-ground protection, enhancement or restoration of wetland and upland habitat used by focal species. Education and outreach components of these projects may also be supported.

The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program provides federal grant funds to state fish and wildlife agencies for developing and implementing programs that benefit wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Grant funds may be used to address a variety of conservation needs--such as research, fish and wildlife surveys, species restoration, habitat management, and monitoring that are identified within a State's Wildlife Action Plan. These funds may also be used to update, revise, or modify a State's Plan.

The Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. In Mexico, projects may also include technical training, environmental education and outreach, organizational infrastructure development, and sustainable-use studies.

Coastal wetlands are valued, in part, because they protect against flooding, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife. Coastal environments are also important economically, generating billions of dollars annually through industries such as commercial fishing and tourism. The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant (NCWCG) Program provides States with financial assistance to protect and restore these valuable resources. Projects can include: