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Great Lakes Forever
c/o Biodiversity Project
4507 N Ravenswood #106
Chicago, IL 60640
773-496-4020 phone
773-906-1303 fax
project@biodiverse.org
 
Intro::At Home::In Your Community::At the Lakes
Whether you're visiting a Great Lakes beach or a coastal campground, just being at the Lakes reminds you how special they are. The incredible size of the Great Lakes masks their surprising vulnerability. Water pollution and over consumption, habitat loss, and increasing problems related to invasive species all threaten the health and future of the Great Lakes.

We can all take steps now to help improve the health of the Lakes and preserve the special places where we go to swim, fish, boat, or just plain enjoy with our families. What better time to start protecting the Great Lakes, than when you're visiting them?
 
 
Five Ways to Protect the Lakes at the Lakes
  1. Plan ahead for your visit. You'll have a more enjoyable Great Lakes visit when you plan ahead. Dress for the weather and make sure you bring enough food and water - remember, you'll save money and reduce pollution when you don't buy bottled water - bring a re-usable bottle from home instead. Make sure that you limit the amount of disposable products that you take on your trip; you'll also reduce the chances of litter when you bring your own garbage bags.
     
  2. Leave nothing in the Lake. We all enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming in the Great Lakes - the most beautiful waters in the world. Be careful not to dump cigarette butts, cans and other waste into the Lakes, this litter ends up on local beaches, endangering the health of tourists, residents and wildlife up and down our coasts.
     
  3. Clean up pet waste. Pet waste can pollute Great Lakes beaches and contribute to beach closings. Whether you're a pet owner or not, no one likes to step in pet waste. Respect your fellow visitors and remember to clean up after your pet - when others see you doing it, they'll be appreciative.
     
  4. Stamp out invasive species - keep boats, four-wheelers, and other gear clean. Are you sick and tired of invasive weeds that fill our lakes and wetlands and invasive critters that out-compete our native fish? You can help prevent the spread of the problem every time you move your boat, trailer, four-wheeler and even your feet from one water body to another. Make sure you wash them off thoroughly. Invasive species, from zebra mussels to Eurasian watermilfoil spread through the seeds, roots, critters and plant matter that stick to our boats, tires, shoes and gear. And if you fish, don't dump live bait in the waters - they could be exotic or invasive species.
     
  5. Respect wildlife. The Great Lakes region is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. We all have a responsibility to protect the web of life which we all rely on for survival. You can help maintain our bountiful wildlife by keeping camp food and related waste secure from animals. Enjoy wildlife from a distance and respect hunting and fishing regulations. 
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