Michigan delegation stands up for great lakes

The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act of 2007, a comprehensive bill that would help stop sewage contamination, prevent invasive species introductions, and restore wetlands, was introduced by U.S. Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), and U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI). Quickly signing on to the bill after its introduction were the remaining members of the Michigan delegation.

Environment Michigan worked closely with the Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes coalition to call every Michigan Congressional office, quickly thank those who signed on, and apply citizen pressure to those which had not. It added up to an effective strategy to pull the entire delegation onto this far-reaching bill.

“The Great Lakes are an awe-inspiring natural and economic resource, and we have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure their long-term health,” said Sen. Levin. “The lakes face a host of ongoing challenges, including threats to water quality, contaminated sediments and the impacts of more than 180 non-native species. The time is now for an ambitious commitment of federal resources to continue to protect and restore the lakes and build for the future because waiting will only make the problems worse.”

The comprehensive Great Lakes restoration bill will:

• Prevent sewage contamination by assisting communities nationally with improving their wastewater infrastructure.

• Stop the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species by enacting a comprehensive national program.

• Prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes by authorizing the last line of defense against the fish—an electric barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

• Restore fish and wildlife, as well as their habitat.

• Clean up contaminated sediment.

Environment Michigan is excited to continue working with the Michigan Delegation and the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives coalition to ensure that the Great Lakes are properly restored and protected for future generations.

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Questions for Rep. Tim Walberg

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In 2006 there were more beach closings and advisories than at any other time in the 17 years the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been tracking them. The number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches jumped 28 percent to more than 25,000, confirming that our nation’s beaches continue to suffer from serious water pollution.

For the second consecutive year, we were able to determine not only the number of closings and advisories, but also the number of times that each beach violated current public health standards. This year, a curious picture emerged: while the number of closing/advisory days increased, the percent of all samples exceeding national health standards decreased to 7 percent in 2006 from 8 percent in 2005. The culprit is stormwater runoff: the number of closing/advisory days due to stormwater doubled to more than 10,000 in 2006. The structures and infrastructures of our coastal cities and towns create the conditions for rain to wash infectious bacteria, viruses, and parasites into our beachwater. In fact, in many of the more populated coastal areas, health officials are so sure that heavy rains will wash sewage, nutrients, and debris into our coastal recreational waters, that they don’t even wait for the results of monitoring before taking action to protect the public – they close beaches or issue advisories preemptively. In 2006, 79 percent of the closing/advisory days due to stormwater contamination were preemptive. Hawaii, which had record amounts of rain in 2006, accounts for the largest share of preemptive closing/advisory days.

Read the summary and download the whole report here.