The Member State of Illinois
Since 1955, Illinois has been a valued member of the Great Lakes Commission, and Illinois personnel have been very active participants in efforts to promote regional economic development and environmental quality. Illinois supports the Great Lakes Commission through the active involvement of its delegation, including the leadership of Commission Vice Chair Donald Vonnahme; the appointment of state officials to task forces; as well as other contributions to regional initiatives.

Illinois, along with other member states, pays dues to the Great Lakes Commission with funds appropriated through its state legislature. The state's return on investment far exceeds its annual dues. Illinois not only realizes monetary benefits, but also enjoys benefits resulting from regional cooperation in promoting sound public policy on an array of economic development, environmental protection and resource management initiatives.

• State Dues for Programs and Services
• Outside Grants and Contracts
• Generating Funds for Illinois' State and Regional Priorities
• Advocating Federal Funding for Great Lakes Progams

Illinois Delegation to the Commission

Commission Projects in Illinois
The Great Lakes Commission carries out projects that are basinwide in nature, as mandated by the Great Lakes Basin Compact. Yet some initiatives -- including pilot studies and demonstration projects -- are located with in a particular state, and therefore may be of special interest to that state. Nonetheless, these projects are designed to have basinwide application and are promoted as models for initiatives throughout the Great Lakes Basin.

Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
The Basin Program coordinates the efforts of various levels of government to protect and improve Great Lakes water quality by controlling soil erosion and sedimentation.

Southwest Lake Michigan Pilot Study
Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, working together through the Great Lakes Commission, have completed the first multistate inventory of emissions of toxic air contaminants that are identified as being potentially harmful to the Great Lakes ecosystem or human health. Specifically, these states created an inventory of small point and area sources of toxic air emissions from the combined 12-county urban areas of Chicago, Gary and Milwaukee.