ACTION AGENDA
2023-2028 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background

Since its founding in 2019, Lake Huron Forever has formalized international relationships with shoreline communities in Michigan and Ontario to support and amplify community solutions to advance water quality protection.

Leveraging nearly a million dollars in public and private funding has allowed for the completion of technical stormwater assessments, planning and implementation of green infrastructure projects and convening of multinational partners in virtual peer learning circles as well as in person at One Water Gatherings. The initiative has successfully allocated funding to community projects through the Partnership Program and invited shoreline communities to participate in the Lake Huron Forever Pledge Program - a community-driven commitment and roadmap that guides municipal leaders to gain a sense of clarity and understanding of what they can do to help protect the natural resources on which their communities rely.

Mission

As a multinational initiative, Lake Huron Forever encourages collaborative approaches to advancing watershed resilience that build upon the abundant care and enthusiasm of people in the Lake Huron Basin.

Theory of Change

Lake Huron Forever is a collective, supportive network of “doers” who are funders, educators, technical experts, advocates, and others. We do this by:

  1. Expanding the connections and amplifying the relationship between philanthropy and conservation across the Lake Huron Basin.

  2. Increasing readiness of communities to prioritize watershed health & environmental stewardship.

  3. Developing and disseminating resources that promote the adoption of nature-based solutions.

  4. Unifying a message around the value and importance of a clean & healthy Lake Huron

  5. Realizing tangible results on the ground that demonstrate commitment to sustained improvement of the Lake Huron watershed.

5-Year Work Plan: Driving Goals & Strategic Focus Areas

ENGAGE

  • Educating Local Leaders

  • Engaging Community Ambassadors

  • Expanding Partner Relationships

ACTIVATE

  • Assessing Community Readiness & Needs

  • Implementing Green Stormwater & Nature-based Infrastructure Solutions

  • Applying Technical Expertise

SUSTAIN

  • Maintaining Projects & Pledges

  • Funding Multi-Year & Multi-National Priorities

  • Strengthening Network & Partnerships

The Steering Committee is working to represent the diversity of partnerships on both sides of the border, to include lived experience and Indigenous knowledge with a “not about us without us” philosophy.

Call to Action

Bring your specific skillset to Lake Huron Forever through our working groups:

“Governance” Working Group (years 1-2) Focused on structure, steering committee roles/expansion, and decision-making

“Funding” Working Group (years 1-3) Focused on funder relationships & securing opportunities for multi-year/multi-national funding, as well as re-tooling case for support and corporate support

Climate Risk Working Group (years 2-3) Focused on developing recommendations for how to incorporate climate risk assessments and climate actions plans in the Pledge Program

“Storytelling & Data” Working Group (years 1-5) Focused on compiling case studies, creating storymaps, overseeing web presence and leveraging other storytelling tools to communicate the impact of LHF

Contact: Abigail Ertel, Lake Huron Forever Team Liaison, abby@huronpines.org or 989-448-2293 ext. 14

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