Great Lakes

NWF’s Great Lakes Regional Center is a leader in protecting the Great Lakes for the local wildlife and inhabitants. The team works to help restore habitats and waterways, stop invasive species, defend against sulfide mining, and support local communities across the region.

Groups of people kayak beneath a cliff.

Northwoods SOS: Protecting Public Lands

With sparkling rivers, thousands of lakes, and acres of forests, it’s easy to picture the Great Northwoods on a page right out of an illustrated children’s fairy tale. For both … Read more

Mackinac Bridge under blue skies.

Line 5 Pipeline Threatens Freshwater for Millions

The 4.5-mile segment of Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac has ignited a firestorm of controversy, lawsuits, and grave concerns over its potential threat to the … Read more

Great Lakes States Show Leadership in Development of PFAS Policies

With over 3,000 PFAS-contaminated sites in the U.S., these forever chemicals are a nationwide problem. But if you looked at a map of the known contamination across the country, the … Read more

A multi-shade brown bird faces away from the camera.

Seasons are changing for Michigan’s fish and wildlife

Warming stream temperatures are becoming lethal for trout. Tick “hot areas” are expanding at an unprecedented rate, increasing the risk of tick-borne illness. More frequent and volatile weather events create … Read more

Building Detroit’s Green Future

For many of the houses of worship and organizations involved in Sacred Grounds, it’s as much about education as it is about the installations. Read part 1 of this series … Read more

Ohio Native Plant Garden at First Cleveland Mosque.

6 New Sacred Grounds™ Native Plant Gardens & 5 New Participants in Cleveland

This summer, six native plant gardens at houses of worship in Greater Cleveland are being designated as National Wildlife Federation Sacred Grounds™ sites! This means each faith community dedicated space, … Read more

Three people, one sitting, greet each other outside.

Building Detroit’s Green Future, One Faith Community at a Time

The historic building that houses Gesu Catholic School is nearly a century old. It spans 97,000 square feet on two blocks in the west side of Detroit, a magnificent presence … Read more

A person on a boat reads a book. There is a dog sitting next to them.

Taking Stock of the Algal Soup

I’ve been sailing on Lake Erie for over twenty years, which incidentally coincides with the reemergence of toxic algal blooms. I’ve seen algal blooms large and small, of varying degrees … Read more

great blue heron

There’s Something Simmering in Kentucky (and it’s not your local bourbon distillery)

The Ohio River, which is legally owned by Kentucky and supplies drinking water to almost five million people, is home to over 160 species of fish, and supports countless other … Read more

photo collage

Great Lakes Indicators Can Benefit from Broader Stakeholder Input

How are the Great Lakes doing? This question arises often, both inside and outside the region. We have fortunately a group of environmental indicators that can go a long way … Read more