History

The Fund for Lake Michigan was established under a 2008 agreement that resolved a dispute concerning the Oak Creek Power Plant and the Elm Road Generating Station in southeastern Wisconsin. The agreement provides for four million dollars each year from 2011 through 2035 “to fund projects to address, reduce, and mitigate water quality impacts in Lake Michigan, such as the impact of invasive species, polluted runoff associated with storm water and erosion, toxic loadings, and habitat destruction on Lake Michigan.”

An Oversight Committee of Trustees manages the Fund, establishes grant-making priorities and guidelines, and makes funding decisions. The committee includes representatives from We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin, the Sierra Club, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is the Fund’s fiscal sponsor and grant administrator.