Governor Gretchen Whitmer Directs $140 Million for Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands and Invasive Species Defense

BAY CITY, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Director Phil Roos announced on Monday the distribution of $140 million in state environmental conservation grants to restore 15,000 acres of coastal freshwater marshes, reconnect isolated river estuaries, and construct automated multi-frequency acoustic and bubble-curtain invasive species deterrent barriers across Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Marys River.

The investment targets crucial ecological nurseries in the Great Lakes basin, removing invasive Phragmites reeds, reconstructing natural sediment dykes, and restoring wild rice (manoomin) beds that support commercially vital walleye, yellow perch, and migratory waterfowl populations.

Protecting the $7 Billion Great Lakes Commercial and Sport Fishery The Great Lakes support a world-class $7 billion commercial and recreational sportfishing economy, but coastal wetland loss and the threat of invasive bighead and silver carp reaching Lake Michigan pose severe ecological risks to native aquatic food webs.

"The Great Lakes are Michigan's heart and soul, and protecting our pristine freshwater ecosystems is our collective responsibility," Governor Whitmer said along the waterfront in Bay City. "Healthy coastal wetlands act as nature's water filters, purifying our drinking water, preventing shoreline erosion, and providing vital nurseries for our fish and wildlife. This $140 million investment restores 15,000 acres of coastal marshes and builds cutting-edge acoustic barriers to keep invasive carp out of our lakes, protecting our multibillion-dollar fishing and tourism economy for future generations."

Coastal Restoration Packages The $140 million program includes:

• Saginaw Bay & Lake Huron Estuary Restoration: $55 million to restore 7,000 acres of connected coastal wetlands and hydrologic flow channels in Bay and Tuscola Counties.
• Invasive Carp Multi-Spectrum Deterrent Barriers: $40 million to install underwater acoustic sound arrays, strobe lights, and bubble curtains at strategic waterway choke points.
• Lake St. Clair & Detroit River Wetland Reconnections: $25 million to remove obsolete concrete seawalls and construct soft-shoreline bio-shelves.
• Tribal Wild Rice (Manoomin) Habitat Restoration: $20 million partnering with Michigan's twelve federally recognized tribes to re-establish native wild rice beds.

Commercial fishing captains, sportfishing federations, and environmental conservation organizations commended the governor's decisive funding, highlighting that coastal wetland restoration provides permanent ecological and economic dividends.