Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership  for Illinois

Ecosystem Partnerships are part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' C2000 program. They provide a forum for agencies, civic groups, businesses and individuals to plan and implement watershed improvement projects. A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains into a stream, river, lake or groundwater.

What is the Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership?

The Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership (LMWEP) is a coalition of public, private and not-for-profit entities created to promote, preserve, protect and enhance the natural, cultural, recreational and sustainable economic resources of Lake Michigan and its watershed in Illinois.  LMWEP is one of 40 partnerships in Illinois that work in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and others to facilitate environmental stewardship in the local landscape. 

The establishment of LMWEP creates a unique opportunity to build a regional constituency of active, informed stakeholders working to restore and protect the Lake Michigan watershed. Under this action plan, the partnership will support an effective community and citizen coalition that leverages financial, information, networking, and technical resources to solve challenges that face Lake Michigan and its watershed.