Activists promise fight for more Great Lakes money

WKAR Public Media

Published February 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM EST

By AP

TRAVERSE CITY, MI –

Activists say they're dissatisfied with President Barack Obama's spending plan for Great Lakes cleanup and will ask Congress for more money.

Obama successfully requested $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in his 2010 budget, but is seeking just $300 million in the fiscal 2011 plan released this week.

Great Lakes advocacy groups said Wednesday they will lobby Congress to boost next year's total to at least $475 million.

Andy Bucshbaum of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition praised Obama for requesting historically high amounts of money for the lakes.

But he said still more is needed to deal with long-underfunded problems such as toxic sediments and invasive species. He said restoring the lakes will boost the economy and create jobs.

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