_{What does the Great Lakes Council and FFI do for you? These Great Lakes Council Conservation Committee programs help ensure that there will be cold, clean water and great fishing for generations to come.}

Conservation Grants

The Great Lakes Council of Fly Fishers International’s Conservation Grant Program provides grants to support “on the ground” conservation activities.  Projects include stream restoration, biological sampling, fish or habitat research, construction of boat ramps, installation of monofilament dispensers or instructional signs and other projects that enhance and protect fisheries.  The GLC partners with FFI and our clubs on these grants and FFI members often do the “hands on” work needed to complete the projects. To apply for a grant download the application from the Conservation tab at www.flyfishersinternational.org.

Recent grants awarded include:

• • Restoring a tributary to the Manistee River

  • Aiding efforts to stop the Aquila Mine on the Menominee River in the UP

• • Supporting the Anglers of the AuSable to stop the establishment of a fish farm on the river

• • Syers Lake Dam Removal on a tributary to the Little Manistee River

Conservation Actions and Policy Positions

The GLC also takes positions on important conservation issues and provides testimony to the Natural Resources Commission and the legislature. Recent actions include:

• Providing testimony to the NRC opposing chumming on Michigan trout streams (rules were eventually enacted prohibiting chumming

• Opposing recreational gold mining on Michigan Rivers

• Opposing establishment of a weir on the Big Manistee that would hamper fish migration

• Opposing the establishment of farms in the Great Lakes

• Opposing Nestle Waters request for increased water withdrawals

Representation on Important Conservation Groups

The Great Lakes Council membership has an important voice in numerous DNR committees and Conservation Groups. These include:

• DNR Cold Water Resources Committee

• DNR Warm Water Resources Committee

• DNR Lake Michigan Citizens Advisory Council

• Michigan Environmental Council

• Conservation Resource Alliance

• Michigan Hydro Relicensing Commission

• DNR Grayling Restoration Committee