Based in Toronto, Environmental Defence is a national environmental organization with a demonstrated commitment to improving water quality in the Great Lakes basin. With previous Mott support, Environmental Defence helped implement the Ontario Clean Water Act, foster policy reforms through the review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and advance the Great Lakes Blueprint, an action plan developed by the environmental community. Renewed support will allow the organization to continue to seek innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to Great Lakes water quality problems. Efforts will include engaging in the U.S. Canada Great Lakes Water Quality renegotiations, strengthening Ontario's water policies, and increasing public understanding of Great Lakes issues.

Great Lakes United works in both Canada and the U.S. to promote comprehensive protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem. This grant increase will support the general purposes of the organization, including a convening of environmental leaders to coordinate the freshwater community's engagement on the renegotiation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Great Lakes United is a binational network of organizations founded in 1982 to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. With prior Mott support, the organization has worked on a range of water quality and water management issues such as improving regional water conservation planning, controlling invasive species, informing implementation of the U.S.-Canada Water Quality Agreement, and promoting new public investment in Great Lakes restoration. With this renewal, the organization will continue this work while also compiling a report on basinwide mining impacts and implementing a public outreach campaign in partnership with the American Sail Training Association's Tall Ships Challenge.