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 Who We Are:

The Office of the Great Lakes was created by Governor Jim Blanchard and the Michigan Legislature in 1985 to provide Michigan State Government offices, and the public, with a single information center on issues affecting or involving the Great Lakes, and to guide the development of government policies, programs and procedures that will protect, enhance, and provide wise management of our Great Lakes resources.

We provide advice and assistance to the Governor's office, members and staff of the Michigan Legislature and Congressional delegation, Directors and staff of the Departments of Natural Resources, Community Health, Agriculture, Transportation and other state offices. We participate in regional policy discussions and forums such as the Great Lakes Commission, International Joint Commission, Council of Great Lakes Governors and the Binational Executive Committee.  To contact the Office of the Great Lakes, call 517-335-4056; fax: 517-335-4053. 

Specific Activities of the Office of the Great Lakes:

• coordinating diversion and consumptive use  reviews under the  Great Lakes Charter;
  
  
• awarding grants under the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund  to promote Great Lakes research and demonstration projects;
  
  
• coordinating ballast water reporting pursuant to Section 3103 of NREPA 1994 Act 451 ( Public Act 114 of 2001);
  
  
• implementing a comprehensive  aquatic nuisance species control plan (pdf file), as developed pursuant to the  Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species Prevention and Control Act of 1990 , Public Law 101-646;
  
  
• preparing the annual  State of the Great Lakes  (pdf file) report  focusing on efforts underway to restore, protect and preserve the Great Lakes ecosystem;
  
  
• tracking trends (pdf file) impacting the chemical, physical and biological components of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Find out what's new on the DEQ Calendar