By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Raising awareness about the importance of the Great Lakes is the focus of a 13 city tour. The Earth Voyager Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives tour started here in Buffalo.
The Earth Voyager is one of the fastest sailing vessels on the Great Lakes. It arrived late last week, docking at Buffalo's brand new Erie Canal slip.
Buffalo was the first stop of the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives tour. Brian Smith is with Citizens Campaign. He says the tour is designed to create awareness on how the Great Lakes impact the environment and economy.
The tour is also calling on leaders in Washington to commit to funding Great Lakes restoration. Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins appeared at the canal site in downtown Buffalo Monday for the tour send off. Higgins says the Great Lakes are an enormous natural asset supplying over 20% of the world's fresh water.
A recent report issued by the Brookings Institution found that Buffalo would gain an economic impact of $600 million $1 billion if the Great Lakes are restored.
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