In December, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) released the 2024 Michigan State of the Great Lakes Report. The report explores major accomplishments, issues, initiatives, and challenges related to the health and sustainability of the Great Lakes.
The word ‘partner’ occurs more than 50 times in the new report. In 15 articles over more than 30 pages, the magazine-style annual report provides examples of how individuals, communities, organizations, universities, tribes, and governments unite around the ecology and economy of Michigan’s Great Lakes.
By statute, EGLE’s Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) prepares and submits the report each calendar year to the state Legislature on behalf of the Governor. In addition to being delivered to state legislators, the 2024 report is posted online along with recent years’ editions.
The Great Lakes hold 21% of the world’s fresh surface water and provide drinking water for more than 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada. A Michigan Sea Grant study of 2018 data found that the lakes supported more than 1.3 million jobs generating $82 billion in wages annually – equivalent to more than $100 million in 2024.
The report highlights activities related to every Great Lake bordering Michigan and specific regions from the Detroit area to Benton Harbor to northern Michigan rivers and streams and everywhere in between. Topics and sectors covered include agriculture, shipping, recreation, education, science, infrastructure, invasive species, conservation, funding, and more.
Leaders and staff from a wide range of Great Lakes and environmental organizations and agencies authored articles for the report: the City of Benton Harbor; EGLE; Friends of the Detroit River; the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Labor and Economic Opportunity, and Natural Resources; Michigan State University and the MSU Extension; the Nature Conservancy; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the University of Michigan Water Center.
Michigan Waterway Facts
Michigan is the only state that borders four Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie.
The state also borders the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River.
Michigan has the most freshwater coastline of any U.S. state.
Michigan has over 300 named rivers and more than 650 miles of designated as wild & scenic rivers.
The brook trout is the state fish of Michigan.
Arctic grayling were once found in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative is working to re-establish Arctic grayling in Michigan.
Fish stocking efforts in Michigan add an estimated $4.2 billion into the state’s economy and help support a Great Lakes fishery valued at more than $7 billion.
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