Protect and Restore Michigan's Water
Touching four of the Great Lakes, harboring more than 11,000 inland lakes, and enjoying more that 36,000 miles of rivers and stream, Michigan depends on water, loves water and is water. It defines our people and our place. It is critically important — in a state surrounded by water — that we not take for granted this precious resource. With global warming, over-consumption and poor land use practices threatening water supplies regionally, nationally and worldwide, we must take responsible steps to protect both the quantity and quality of our water.
February 18, 2010 -- Did you know that Michigan is on the brink of an enormous invasive species disaster? Asian carp, which have infiltrated the Mississippi River, are poised to invade Lake Michigan. Their DNA has been found only 6 miles from Lake Michigan –past an electric fence designed to keep the non-native fish from entering the lakes. At this point, navigation locks are the only obstacles between the fish and the Great Lakes. This week the Regional Coordinating Committee working to address the Asian carp issue held a public meeting in Ypsilanti, to allow for public comment and public airing of grievances.
January 15, 2010 -- What if the water you drink, cook with, bathe in and recreate in was red, orange or yellow, would you still use it? Would you consider it safe and allow your family and friends to use it? A recent decision by the DEQ certainly indicates that they think it would be okay. The DEQ approved approved a state permit for a metallic sulfide mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that has the potential to unleash sulfuric acid and contaminate our water.
September 2009 -- Did you know that despite the passage of the Great Lakes Compact in 2008 — which was an enormous step in the right direction — there remain significant holes in our water protection laws?
