Members - Water withdrawal legislation is pending on the floor of both the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate that is tie-barred to the Great Lakes Compact legislation.  While the competing bills are in agreement regarding 90% of their content the differences, however, are significant.  The current Senate bill SB 860 S-3, would allow water removal from Michigan’s cold water streams and rivers that resulted in a loss of up to 5% of the thriving species.  The water removed would be about 25% of the low summer flows.  The pending bill in the House limits the effects of water withdrawal on cold water streams and rivers only to the point where less than 1% of the thriving species is impacted. 

We believe that the Michigan legislation is going to try to wrap up the Great Lakes Compact legislation this month.  It is critical that we continue to contact our Senators and Representatives. The opposition to Senate Bills 212 and 860 are:

• They propose to make as much as 25% of our cool and warm rivers and streams available for water withdrawals. 
• They do not require a permit for water withdrawals until the proposal hits a whopping 2 million gallons a day – proposals for less can simply register and take our water, unsupervised! 
• Public input is limited.
• Groundwater is not recognized as a public resource, subject to public trust protection. 

Floor substitutes are needed on the House bills before passed. To name a few:

1. The definition of diversion needs to be rejected.  As stated now it attempts to allow water in any sized container to leave Michigan or the Basin in a container less than 5.7 gallons.
2. The reduction of fish populations remains from 1% to 20%, depending on the character of the stream or river.
3. Individual permit review remains insufficient for lack of adequate public trust language or standard.

If you have not done so already, you can visit www.michiganwaternotforsale.com and submit your comments from there.

Eventually the differences in these two bill packages will have to be worked out, and I will continue to keep you posted about how to help.  Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

You spoke up before and you were heard.  I ask that you do it again.  Let you elected official know how you feel about this incredible important issue.  The future of Michigan’s resources depend on it.  ou can find your appropriate legislators online at www.house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp and www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm. Let all of the legislators know your opposition or support is crucial.  Please make the phone call or send an email.  Let them know that you are a voter in their district and that this matters to you.

Terry Swier
President Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
tswier@centurytel.net
231-972-8856