Action Alert: Troubled Waters in Lansing

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Troubled Waters in Lansing

This year, the state legislature is expected to review and debate passage of The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (the Compact), part of the Great Lakes Charter Annex 2001.

The Compact is an agreement among the eight US Great Lake states to prevent diversions and withdrawals that would harm the ecosystem created by the waters of the Great Lakes. It is rooted in history and a long tradition of managing the Great Lakes cooperatively. But, let’s just focus on relatively recent history.

In 1985, the Sun Belt and the Southwest were experiencing unprecedented growth. At that time, the Great Lake Canadian Provinces and US states signed the Great Lakes Charter to respond to a growing interest in diverting water from here to supply arid regions of the United States.

You may remember another important incident that belongs in this timeline. In 1998, the Nova Group proposed to remove 160 million gallons annually from Lake Superior to sell in Asia. The permit was approved by the Province of Ontario, but public outcry across the basin was strong and eventually the permit was rescinded. This incident prompted the Council of Great Lakes Governors, which is a partnership of the eight state governors and two Canadian premiers bordering the lakes, to study the issue of bulk removals of water.

When that study was completed, the information provided the basis for action. On June 18, 2001, the Council signed the Great Lakes Charter Annex 2001 (also called Annex 2001) and promised to prepare basin-wide, binding agreements in order to “protect, preserve, restore, and improve the Great Lakes for the use and benefit of its citizens.”

OUR STATE LAWS
Combining passage of the Compact with our proposed changes to Michigan law will result in strong protection of our water. Simply passing the Compact is not enough. Michigan must also adjust state law to do what the Compact requires.

Our platform brings Michigan into compliance with the Compact. It also improves implementation of the Compact, which has a “floor” of basic requirements but allows states to enact stronger provisions to construct the kind of “ceiling” of standards they may want to have. Since passing our first water use laws in February 2006, real world examples have shown us that more is needed. Now that we have this experience to draw from, our platform provides the steps needed to strengthen existing laws.

Michigan is expected to be a leader in this region, since we are the only state entirely surrounded by the Great Lakes. Our platform demonstrates what is possible and sets a standard of protection for our precious inland waters and the Great Lakes ecosystem, all facing a future of uncertainty from factors such as drought, climate change, and a growing global demand for fresh water resources.

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