McClain, Dingell Reintroduce Great Lakes Mapping Act to Unlock Region’s Economic Potential

WASHINGTON - Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) reintroduced the Great Lakes Mapping Act to ensure future economic development, resource management, and environmental sustainability in the Great Lakes region. The bipartisan legislation directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct high-resolution mapping of the Great Lakes to further understand the underwater environment.

"Only 13 percent of the Great Lakes is mapped to modern standards. Imagine how much more these bodies of water can be used to strengthen our economy if the remaining 87 percent is utilized," McClain said. "We have a unique opportunity to unlock the region's economic potential. Advanced mapping will give us a deeper understanding of how we can tap into and protect one of American's most valuable natural resources. My legislation with Rep. Dingell will take Michigan's economy to the next level."

"In Michigan, the Great Lakes are a way of life, and their impact is felt across our country and beyond. Protecting these waters is personal to me and to so many who call the Heartland home," Dingell said. "Comprehensively exploring and mapping the Great Lakes will strengthen our understanding of their underwater environment so that we can better protect them and the many species they contain and continue to foster the economic prosperity they have supported for generations."

"GLOS is proud to support this landmark legislation that will accelerate high-resolution mapping of the Great Lakes lakebed within a decade," Jennifer Boehme, CEO of the Great Lakes Observing System said. "As stewards of the world's largest freshwater system, we believe a complete map of the lakefloor is essential to strengthening maritime safety, supporting commerce, and preserving cultural history. From shipwrecks to underwater infrastructure, there's still so much we don't know about what lies beneath the surface of these inland seas. Better data means better decisions - for emergency response, navigation, water quality, and economic development. Mapping the lakebed is the next frontier in our work - filling in the blind spots, modernizing outdated systems, and ensuring the Great Lakes remain a resilient, secure, and sustainable resource for future generations. This legislation moves us closer to that vision."

The bill would require NOAA to complete the mapping project by 2030, and the information would be publicly available.

Read the full bill text here.