LANSING – House Democrats today introduced a bold plan that will protect Great Lakes water – Michigan's most precious natural resource – from being diverted and sold for profit to other states and nations. The "Great Lakes, Great Michigan" plan also strengthens environmental protections; requires large-scale users to adopt tougher conservation practices; and gives citizens the ability to hold companies accountable for violating water protection laws.
"We must keep our water here in Michigan where it belongs," said State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), chair of the Great Lakes and Environment Committee. "It is imperative that we protect our water from becoming just another commodity to be siphoned off and sold for profit."
The Democratic package:
- Ratifies the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact, which will ban diversions of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin.
- Toughens standards for companies that try to bottle up and sell off Great Lakes and Michigan water for profit.
- Strengthens water protection standards by requiring state approval for withdrawals above 1 million gallons per day, down from 2 million gallons per day.
- Requires large-scale water users such as municipalities, utilities and others to implement water conservation practices.
- Gives the public additional tools to hold companies accountable when they violate water protection laws, and increases the maximum civil fine from $1,000 to $10,000 for most water use violations.
Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township). "We must establish strict penalties for those who put our water at risk and attempt to weaken our quality of life."
The Democrats' plan comes amid rising threats to the Great Lakes, including low water levels brought on by global warming. According to a June 12 article in the Detroit News,[i]Lake Superior are projected to reach a record low of 22 inches below average in September, while Lake Michigan and Lake Huron also could see lows of 22 inches below average. Lake Erie could reach 12 inches below average, and Lake St. Clair could reach 17 inches below average, according to the article. Low water levels force shipping companies to carry less freight per trip – a cost that is passed on to consumers. water levels in
Meanwhile, within the next 10 years, 36 states expect water shortages, according to a 2003 Government Accountability Office report. As more states and countries dry up, they will turn to the Great Lakes to replenish their supplies. Over the years, proposals to use Great Lakes water have ranged from replenishing the Ogallala Aquifer[ii] on the Great Plains to sending water by tanker to Asia[iii].
Democrats also noted that the three biggest industries in Michigan – agriculture, manufacturing and tourism – depend heavily on healthy Great Lakes water.