Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025

This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to offer technical and financial assistance for the Great Lakes Watershed. The primary goal is to identify, conserve, restore, and interpret the region's natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources, working with various federal, state, local, and private entities. A key provision is the establishment of a Great Lakes Gateways Network , which will comprise designated sites and Great Lakes Watertrails . This network aims to enhance public education and access to the Great Lakes by linking resources through trails, scenic byways, and water routes, potentially including state parks, historic seaports, and cultural sites. The bill also creates a Great Lakes Gateways Grants Assistance Program to aid various organizations in conserving and restoring these important resources. Grants under this program will not exceed 50 percent of eligible project costs, requiring significant non-Federal matching funds, and administrative expenses are capped at 10 percent. For the implementation of these initiatives, the bill authorizes an appropriation of $6,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031.