Great Lakes Law

Better protections for wetlands in Michigan and the Great Lakes

The National Wildlife Federation’s recent report, Protecting and Restoring the Kidneys of the Great Lakes: An Assessment of Wetlands Programs in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, has reinvigorated ongoing efforts to improve wetland protection in Michigan. Michigan is one of two states that has a federally delegated wetland protection program, but for budgetary and political reasons the state is considering dropping its wetland protection program, leaving only the federal government to do the job (and... Read more →

President Obama taps Great Lakes advocate Cam Davis to lead Great Lakes restoration program

President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson have tapped Cam Davis, most recently President of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, for a position that most people will simply call “Great Lakes Czar.” Officially, Cam has been appointed by Administrator Jackson as Senior Advisor on the Great Lakes. While the position will be with the EPA, Cam will be working with numerous agencies to coordinate and implement the Great Lakes restoration work. This appointment fulfills... Read more →

Great Lakes Senators Key to Future of Clean Water Act

Since the Supreme Court’s infamously muddled and split decision in Rapanos v. United States created uncertainty for protecting non-navigable streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act, political efforts have been building to restore protections through the legislation called the Clean Water Restoration Act. After several years of legislative and outreach work, 2009 could be the year of success for the Clean Water Restoration Act. I asked my good friend and former colleague Chris Grubb... Read more →

International Joint Commission draft report blames climate change, not dredging, for falling Great Lakes water levels

Falling lake levels in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, have generated considerable controversy and scientific debate. In 2004, a study by the internationally respected coastal consulting engineering firm Baird & Associates found that decades of dredging in the St. Clair River, shoreline alterations, and sand and gravel mining have led to an increased conveyance that draws more water from Lakes Michigan and Huron into the lower lakes (Erie and Ontario) and... Read more →

President Obama signs massive new wilderness bill with protections for Great Lakes treasures

Just a few months after taking office, President Obama has already put his name up there with the greatest presidents for public land protection by signing the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. The huge legislative package creates the largest addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System in over a decade and one of the biggest public land conservation measures ever. It designates more than 2 million acres of wilderness in California, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, New... Read more →

What is “sustainable” water management?

Before “green” became cool, “sustainable” was the guiding phrase for shaping environmental solutions with economic prosperity. Like most trends, the focus on sustainability brought valuable changes and discussions, but at some point the term became overused and lost its meaning. Terminology aside, the concept remains very useful and important, as illustrated by Tracy Mehan’s recent testimony on “Sustainable Wastewater Management” before the U.S. House of Representative’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Water Resources and... Read more →

The inside scoop on Great Lakes restoration politics and funding

For several years, the Great lakes region has been coming together to plan and secure funding for Great Lakes restoration. With the new administration, changes in Congress, and widespread support for economic stimulus spending, 2009 could be a breakthrough year for Great Lakes restoration efforts. I asked my good friend and former colleague Chris Grubb, who is the field director for the Healing Our Waters® Great Lakes Coalition, to provide the inside scoop on the... Read more →

Water issues on the ballot in Ohio and Minnesota

Two Great Lakes states, Ohio and Minnesota, have state Constitutional amendments on the ballot important to water rights and water protection. In Ohio, ballot issue #3 would amend the state Constitution to protect private groundwater rights while still allowing state regulation of groundwater use. The proposed amendment was pushed by State Senator Tim Grendell as part of the deal to approve the Great Lakes compact over the summer. I covered the proposed amendment in a... Read more →

Freshwater and economic transformation in the Great Lakes region

Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce are often pragmatic advocates of environmental protection, as they see the local economic benefits of good environmental policy. The Business Agenda for Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region just released by a coalition of the major local Chambers of Commerce from the across the region (including the Detroit Regional Chamber) is an excellent example. The agenda identifies five Great Lakes regional economic public policy priorities for the next President and... Read more →

Coast Guard issues interim rule and request for public comments on dumping cargo residue in the Great Lakes

The Coast Guard last week issued an interim rule and request for public comments regarding the dumping of cargo residue by freighters overboard into the Great Lakes. Under the interim rule, the Coast Guard is allowing the pollution dumping to continue, but prohibiting dumping in protected areas and requiring shippers to record and report their dumping. Coast Guard policy has allowed ships to dump potentially harmful dry cargo residues into the Great Lakes and much... Read more →