Life Below Water

The Niagara River, a strait that connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, is an environmental treasure of unique ecological character. It is home to more than 700 species of plants, 300 bird species, and 100 fish species. The magnificent Niagara River Corridor meets all criteria for designation as an internationally important body of water under the Ramsar Convention. This treaty has designated over 2,000 sites across the world as “Wetlands of International Importance.” Designation leads to increased economic opportunities, tourism, funding opportunities, and environmental appreciation. The bi-national Niagara Region, the United States, Canada, and the world would benefit from including the Niagara River Corridor among these critical resources.

The Erie Hack is a data and engineering competition that unites coders, developers, engineers, and water experts to generate enduring solutions to Lake Erie’s biggest challenges. The competition includes $100,000 in prizes for the most creative and effective hacks. Working from challenge statements derived from ideation sessions with NASA representatives and regional stakeholders, teams were charged with creating innovative digital tools, hardware innovations, and engineering solutions that build “the Blue Economy”: the emergent economic sector dedicated to the sustainable stewardship of bodies of freshwater around the globe. The Erie Hack provides high school students, college students, and professionals the opportunity to combine their own expertise with solid mentoring to create technologies with the potential to invigorate Lake Erie’s environment and economy

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition’s mission is to secure a sustainable Great Lakes restoration plan and the federal funding to implement it. Healthy lakes and healthy people go hand in hand. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition will endeavor to make our work more relevant and impactful by ensuring that the people of the region have access to clean, affordable, and safe drinking water; can eat fish that are not toxic; and are able to live healthy lives that are not undermined by pollution. Equity in our work means we will strive to intentionally include those who have been historically excluded—specifically people of color and people from impoverished backgrounds—and work to break down barriers to their inclusion within the Great Lakes community, so that the Great Lakes can be enjoyed and used by people now and for generations to come.