Lake Huron Forever
Engage communities and activate local solutions to sustain a healthy Lake Huron Forever.
The Lake Huron Forever initiative was developed in 2019 by shoreline community
foundations and conservation partners from the United States and Canada to advance
water quality protection and healthy, sustainable communities on both sides of the lake.
The Lake Huron Forever initiative aims to support community conversation and
collaboration in the design and implementation of on-the-ground work to strengthen the
health and well-being of residents, as well as natural resources.
Protecting water quality, ensuring the diversity of plant and animal life and supporting
communities across the region means committing to the long-term protection of Lake
Huron. In the coming years, we strive to engage communities and activate collaboration
and partnerships to sustain a healthy Lake Huron through the Lake Huron Forever initiative.
Now is the time to take action. Forever starts today.
Ecological Overview
GREAT LAKES
The Great Lakes are vital to the ecological, economic and social well-being of the people,
places and wildlife that make up the Great Lakes Region. Combined, the Great Lakes
contain one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water, by volume. They are a non-renewable
resource with over 3,000 miles of shoreline that is home to varied and unique vistas, rare
landforms, recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat. The Great Lakes region includes
eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, generating 1.3 million jobs as well as $82
billion in wages annually. With an abundance of natural resources, visitors and residents
find a deep connection to place along the shorelines, in the forests and on the many
flowing rivers and streams that define the Great Lakes Region. (Sources: EGLE CMP
Program, Michigan Sea Grant Great Lakes and the Economy)
LAKE HURON
With the longest shoreline of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron supports unique and imperiled
ecosystems with an abundance of rare plant and animal species that exist nowhere else on
Earth. With forested woodlands, dune and swale formations, karst geology and more islands
Engage communities and activate local solutions to sustain a healthy Lake Huron Forever.
than all the other Great Lakes combined (30,000+), the Lake Huron Basin creates the
perfect backdrop for biodiversity.
MICHIGAN
The Lake Huron shoreline is home to the endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly and
Michigan's rare state wildflower the dwarf lake iris. The northern shores of Lake Huron are
among the most important migratory bird pathways in North America. Rich with food
sources, Lake Huron’s coastal wetlands provide ideal stopover sites for migrating birds in
need of sustenance. The dense white cedar swamps provide ideal cover for songbirds while
the marshes and swales provide shelter for shorebirds and waterfowl.
ONTARIO
Ontario’s Lake Huron shoreline is dotted with scenic sunset beaches, cottage towns and
picturesque dune and swale systems providing important scenic and natural habitat values.
This area is also home to several First Nations who are the traditional keepers of the
territory and stewards of its associated waters. Unique landforms define the shoreline with
Georgian Bay boasting over 30,000 islands and amazing kayaking and hiking opportunities
along the dramatic rocky cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment - a UNESCO World Biosphere
Reserve. The Bruce Peninsula, the largest remaining intact natural habitat in southern
Ontario, features dramatic cliff ecosystems and is an important stopover for migratory birds.
It also provides a safe haven for globally rare alvar ecosystems (thin, nutrient-poor soils
that overlay limestone gravel and bedrock that as a result, support sparse, sensitive and
sometimes rare grasses and plants), over 40 species of orchids as well as lush and varied
fern species.
Example Areas of Focus
LAND PROTECTION
Protect wild places to keep natural habitats intact, support natural filtration systems
and limit coastal development. More natural landscapes can reduce flooding and pollution
in lakes and streams that drain into Lake Huron.
WATER QUALITY
Protecting water quality for people and wildlife ensures that it’s safe for drinking and
recreation. Assess and manage pollution and flooding caused by excess stormwater runoff.
Understand existing stormwater management and water quality protection programs and
partners and assess current municipal green and grey infrastructure best management
practices.
PUBLIC HEALTH
The Lake Huron Forever initiative focuses on the intersection between communities and
the environment, or people and place. With that in mind, projects that protect Lake Huron
also focus on improving and protecting human and public health. We sustain a healthy
Engage communities and activate local solutions to sustain a healthy Lake Huron Forever.
Lake Huron so our people can be healthy by working with communities to balance access
to natural spaces, recreation opportunities and quality of life benefits with long-term
stewardship and protection planning.
EDUCATION
Peer-to-peer learning can be used to raise awareness for the challenges and values Lake
Huron communities face. Communities can improve and adapt programs and management
strategies based on shared learning from their peers.
Theory of Change
Our theory is that, through developing our overarching program - Lake Huron Forever - we
are using an approach that addresses (1) regional threats to quality of life (specifically
access to clean air and water and healthy land) (2) development and resources to support
community collaboration, and (3) building public awareness about the importance of a
healthy lake to sustain collective wellbeing.
Our program serves as both one of inspiration and as a clearinghouse of resources for local
community leaders and decision makers to access information, technical support, training,
partnership opportunities and collaboration. Utilizing existing partners but better
connecting them will help to leverage resources, attracting additional support, and
ultimately leading to the implementation of nature-based solutions on a meaningful scale
that positively impacts Lake Huron.
Engage. Activate. Sustain.
Engage: Initiate dialogues in communities about the resources each community needs to
take action. By taking inventory of existing programs and partners and assessing current
municipal conservation practices, Lake Huron communities will have the initial information
they need to start taking steps toward Great Lakes protection. The goal of this stage is to
facilitate increased access to knowledge, resources and technical experts to help
communities establish a plan of action with prioritized solutions.
Activate: Connect communities to resources and deepen understanding through learning
opportunities. By supporting the activation of tailored learning opportunities that can be
delivered to community leaders, Lake Huron communities will share expertise and access
to water quality, land protection and stewardship resources that will, in turn, allow for
prioritizing and implementing solutions. Through broad outreach and customized solutions,
each community can be activated to protect the health of Lake Huron with solutions to
meet their unique needs.
Sustain: Ensure long-term protection of the Great Lakes through sustained action.
Increasing the readiness of Lake Huron communities to collaborate on and implement land
protection and clean water action is one step toward sustainable water quality protection
Engage communities and activate local solutions to sustain a healthy Lake Huron Forever.
for Lake Huron. To further ensure long-term protections of the Great Lakes and to support
increased community readiness, local, state, provincial, federal and basin-wide funders will
need to prioritize Lake Huron’s communities and water quality in their funding decisions.
