ABSTRACT
It would not be an overstatement to say that the GLRI has created extreme levels of excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation of achieving visible and measurable progress toward Great Lakes restoration and improvement of ecosystem health. While the program was still quite new in 2010, challenges in budgeting at the state and federal level, concerns about a sluggish U.S. economy and the diffi culty faced by EPA to administer funds quickly and effi ciently to partner agencies and project applicants has created some doubt about the future of the GLRI. Th at being said, the GLRI is, at least for the moment, being viewed as a monumental achievement and testimony to what can be accomplished with a unifi ed message, good collaboration and constant coordination among and between agencies both inside and outside of government.
