PROTECT GREAT LAKES BASIN FROM WATER DIVERSION AND WITHDRAWL
CHICAGO Annex 2001 is an important agreement between the governors of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states, and the premieres of Ontario and Quebec. The worthy intent is to create and agree on a plan to protect the Great Lakes basin from water loss, but is the draft even as strong as existing federal law? In the opinion of Congressman Bart Stupak, who represents northern Michigan, and many others who have read the draft plan, it would be a significant step back.
Only 1% of the water in the Great Lakes is renewed annually by rain and snowmelt.
The other 99% is a finite resource, like oil, that cannot be replaced. Burt Lake is directly connected to Lake Huron through Mullet Lake and the Cheboygan River. The Great Lakes provide drinking water for 33 million people, and support an annual $7 billon sport fishing industry.
Holding 20% of Earthıs fresh water, the Great Lakes will be increasingly targeted for water export and diversion. Theyıre a likely source likely to fuel more unsustainable urban sprawl in the arid west, plus bottling, agriculture, and other industrial uses. Serious plans to divert Great Lakes water to arid regions have been proposed before, and are almost certain to come up again.
Your comments are needed by October 18.
The draft Annex 2001 compact proposes establishing a permitting process to allow Great Lakes water diversion and export, claiming it could be ³minimized² to prevent ³significant² impacts. This type of language would be widely interpreted, and would encourage bureaucratic wiggling harmful to natural resources and the public interest. Whatıs needed is strong state, local and federal legislation that prevents future water grab proposals . In fact, this is a good environmental criteria with local impact to question your favorite political candidates about before November.
Most politicians and government agencies cannot be trusted to protect Great Lakes basin water. Therefore any diversion or withdrawal that is proposed through a compact process should be put to a vote of citizens in the Great Lakes basin. Itıs also important to realize that multi-national agreements like NAFTA and the WTO are likely to have a negative effect on a regionıs ability to protect itıs natural resources.
Please comment by October 18 against diversions and withdrawals of Great Lakes basin water. The threat is real, imminent, and too serious to ignore.
Send comments to:
David Naftzger, Council of Great Lakes Governors
35 E. Wacker Dr., #1850
Chicago IL 60601
For more details, visit www.speakongreatlakes.org
Contact: Jill Ryan, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, 231.347.1181 x106, jill@watershedcouncil.org
Daniel R. Patterson is an Ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity <www.biologicaldiversity.org>. He is the son of Burt Lake residents Jill & Dave Patterson.