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How Much Weight Can Public Carry in Promoting Great Lakes' Health?

The condition of the Great Lakes will receive its fair share of attention over the next few days.

Tonight in Milwaukee, the EPA is asking for public input on the future of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – or GLRI.

Over the last four years, the federally funded program has funneled more than  $1 billion into projects such as cleaning up polluted estuaries and combating invasive species.

Tomorrow, Friday, the Council of Great Lakes Governors will convene on Mackinac Island for a weekend’s worth of meetings to “advance regional priorities.”

Cameron Davis will be one the scene for BOTH gatherings.

As Senior Advisor to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, its Davis’ job to coordinate the role 16 federal agencies play in putting GLRI dollars to work around the Great Lakes.

We corralled Davis by phone as he headed toward Milwaukee.

He began by rattling off a few examples of progress made during phase one of the Initiative.

Cameron Davis is senior advisor to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and chief liaison to Capitol Hill on Great Lakes issues. He’ll be in Milwaukee tonight at the Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park for a public hearing about the future of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

You can weigh in in person – or submit a comment online. You have until July 12 to make your voice heard.

The Council of Great Lakes Governors that will convene over the weekend on Mackinac Island.

Susan is WUWM's environmental reporter.