resources

The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Decision Support Tool (CWDST) allows users to interact with a variety of information relevant to coastal wetland conservation and management. Through the decision support tool, users can select and rank coastal wetlands within Western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay based on a variety of filters, including ownership, area, population, structural, chemical, and physical characteristics.

As part of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA), models are being developed to support the identification and restoration of potential coastal wetlands (i.e., areas that could become coastal wetlands if hydrologically connected to the Great Lakes) along the U.S. coast of the Great Lakes. The GLCWRA uses principles of geodesign to identify areas along U.S. coast of the Great Lakes that have the most potential to restore coastal wetland habitat.

The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States 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 for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.

The Small Grants Program funds projects that are too small to be competitive for the Standard Grants Program.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds projects to protect, restore, and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

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:

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.

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 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 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: