Ann Arbor, Mich. – Organizations across the region will work together to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the sixth annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, June 26 – July 6, 2024. Volunteers will demonstrate to boaters and others how to prevent the spread of AIS, how to identify AIS, and how to report AIS, which are recognized as one of the most significant threats to the ecological and economic health of the Great Lakes. This annual event is coordinated through an international partnership of federal, state, and provincial agencies and Indigenous Nations with the support of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and others.

“The GLC is proud to continue partnering with the states and provinces and organizations around the basin to engage the public about the threat of invasive species,” said GLC Chair Mary Mertz, Director of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Educating boaters and others who love our Great Lakes about the impacts of harmful, nonnative aquatic plants and animals is critical to protecting our regional ecosystems, tourism and economy.”

In 2023, over 840 public and private boat landings in nine Great Lakes states and provinces participated in the Landing Blitz, and approximately 150,000 people were educated about AIS by more than 1,100 volunteers. Additionally, more than 100,000 people saw information about the Landing Blitz on social media.

For the third year, the GLC is also awarding more than $55,000 in competitive grants to local organizations to support broader participation in the Landing Blitz. This funding will be used by grantees to host local events, expanding the overall reach of the initiative. This year eight grants were awarded:

Funding for the Landing Blitz is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through an agreement between the GLC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, including educational materials, location, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.glc.org/blitz.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.