A Great Lakes communities advocacy group says federal stimulus funds are needed for clean water projects, including controlling runoff contaminants in Kewaunee and Door counties.  The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative says funding water quality improvement projects should be a priority for future stimulus programs from the U.S. and Canadian governments.  Sheboygan Mayor Michael Vandersteen, who's Chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, says stimulus funding would jump-start current projects upgrading urban and rural water treatment facilities.

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative says getting such water improvement projects up and running now will also put people in the construction trades back to work, which in turn will create additional support jobs.

(Photograph from sheboyganwi.gov)