A Brookings Institution study suggested that restoring the
health of the U.S. Great Lakes could create $50 billion in
economic benefit for the area. The cost-benefit analysis showed
efforts to improve the health of the Great Lakes -- beset by
invasive species, sewage contamination toxic pollution and other
threats -- would generate nearly two times the economic gains
compared with such a project's cost. "A tremendous opportunity
exists to restore the lakes, reinvigorate the region's economy,
and boost the competitiveness of the nation," said Robert Litan
of the Kauffmann Foundation, a Brookings senior Fellow who led
the study. "The report makes a compelling case for Congress to
act now to restore the lakes by passing the Great Lakes
Collaboration Implementation Act." The researchers determined
the Great Lakes region could gain at least $50 billion in long-
term economic benefits from a restoration investment of $26
billion. That's a net gain of at least $24 billion from
increases in tourism, the fishing indust