Nonprofits speak out on federal, state, and local decisions and their impact on the environment

By Ren Brabenec | June 21, 2025

Michigan’s natural beauty is no mystery to anyone who’s put their feet in our sand, their hands on our lake stones, or turned their face up toward the summer sunshine that brings it all together. Across the state, several nonprofits operate in quiet reverence of the landscapes we hold dear, advocating tirelessly for Michigan’s water, earth, and air.

We checked in with two, Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) and the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC), to hear about their latest projects, wins, and concerns.

Funding Pauses Hamper Important Environmental Projects

Suzie Knoll, executive director of CRA, says her organization has been deeply affected by changes at the federal level.

“We recently finalized a three-year strategic plan in early 2025, less than a month before the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued the federal funding freeze memo, immediately casting uncertainty over previously-awarded funds from CRA’s largest federal agency partners,” Knoll says.

The funding freeze is already affecting critical environmental projects. Many of CRA’s projects rely on support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Millions of dollars in newly awarded grants to CRA—including one large grant that was earmarked for 31 road/stream crossing replacements and bridge projects—are currently on hold,” says Knoll.

Knoll gave two examples of stream crossing replacements in the Cedar River watershed (Leelanau County), funded through the Farm Bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program that have been put on hold. The supply ordering window for the projects was missed due to payment uncertainty, resulting in a delay of at least a year.

What Happens Next?

Knoll says continued delays stemming from White House funding freezes could result in increased erosion and sedimentation in critical streams, further degrading habitat for aquatic species.

Even more urgently, some sites involve aging dam infrastructure. Without timely intervention by the CRA and its partners, further deterioration could lead to dam failure.

And it’s not just funding freezes CRA is concerned about. Knoll referenced the current administration’s staffing of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with pro-deregulation leadership, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who stated during his confirmation hearing that under his leadership, the EPA would not be required to regulate fossil fuel emissions.

Everything about Michigan’s natural resources is influenced by the human populations who live in and near those resources, and the federal policies governing how humans operate in their environments make all the difference in the world.

For example, Knoll explained that one of CRA’s greatest challenges is balancing rapid population and tourism growth with the need to protect and restore the natural landscapes that draw people to northern Michigan in the first place.

“Federal funding shortfalls will require us to put more time and resources into pursuing private funding sources and will undoubtedly take away from our work on the ground,” Knoll says.

Knoll used a map to show us which 2025-2027 projects are at risk due to funding pauses, revealing that 31 of the 60 projects listed, including dam removals, wetland restorations, and stream crossing repairs, are at risk because of paused federal funding.

Decisions from D.C. Could Have Lasting Effects

Mike Foley, co-chair of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, says he’s most concerned about the Trump Administration’s efforts to clamp down on clean energy initiatives, especially considering Michigan’s strong leadership in this industry.

Foley says that what’s worse is that the current administration is fast-tracking all the wrong energy projects.

“The declaration of an energy emergency by the current administration has led to certain projects that NMEAC strongly opposes [e.g., the proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac] being fast-tracked in their permit review process,” says Foley. “We’re working with partner organizations on how best to respond to these accelerated threats. We continue to raise awareness with the public, educate citizens on the dangers inherent with the current Line 5 operations and the proposed tunnel, and contact the governor, the head of the DNR, and our congressional delegations to voice our opposition to this project.”

Foley emphasized that the Line 5 project has implications for the climate, critical ecosystems around the Straits of Mackinac, and the untold thousands of habitats located along the pipeline’s 645-mile-long transit.

“Every bit of effort pushing for the pipeline from the feds to local pipeline supporters is effort that could be put towards clean energy,” Foley adds.

Foley also shared concerns about the pollution of Michigan waterways from the illegal discharge of wastewater, concerns about deregulation, the excessive removal of mature trees and tree canopies in northern Michigan cities, development sprawl with associated increases in impervious surfaces leading to increased stormwater runoff, and an increase in chlorides in local waters from the use of road salt in winter.

Drawing Strength from Victories

It’s never all bad news when a majority of the public supports healthy ecosystems, because even in the face of opposition, concerned residents can still come together and make changes for the better.

On his highlight reel, Foley pointed to several land conservation victories his organization has been involved in.

“We’ve been very happy to support and see some significant land protection by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Leelanau Conservancy, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians,” he says.

Foley also emphasized his hope that the point-of-transfer septic regulations his organization has advocated for—recently approved by the Grand Traverse County Commissioners—will become a first step toward a more comprehensive, uniform septic code for the northern Lower Peninsula, and perhaps for the entire state.

Knoll says she takes hope in the projects her organization was able to secure funding for and begin implementing before the federal funding freeze hit.

“For decades, clogged and undersized culverts degraded the Crystal River’s health, disrupting natural stream flow and fragmenting habitat for fish and wildlife,” she says. “The Crystal River Initiative was launched to address four critical road-stream crossings at the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—one of our region’s most treasured landscapes.”

The initiative will reconnect the Crystal River to Lake Michigan, opening nearly five miles of stream below the watershed’s lowermost sea lamprey barrier.

“Our organization has taken a supporting role, as this work is being led by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in partnership with CRA, the Leelanau County Road Commission, and the National Park Service,” Knoll continues. “Together, we’re restoring natural river function, improving public safety, and helping to deepen cultural and spiritual connections to the land and water.”

Contact. Educate. Volunteer. Donate.

According to Foley and Knoll, the public remains the decision-makers in what happens to Michigan’s natural lands, at least for now. That’s why the theme is always “contact, educate, volunteer, donate.”

“Contact local, state, and federal government representatives about environmental issues that matter to you, your family, friends, and neighbors,” Foley says. “Educate yourself with trusted, verifiable sources on the impact of rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere and the importance of reducing energy consumption and accelerating our transition to a low-carbon energy future. Volunteer and donate if you are able.”

Knoll mirrors Foley’s sentiment. “We urge our supporters to reach out to their congressional representatives, share what they know of CRA’s impactful work in your region, and advocate for federal agencies to expedite their review of conservation programs,” she says.

“Swift action is needed to allow restoration projects to move forward, supporting the rural communities that depend on them.”