State Groups Again Call For Strong Great Lakes Compact

In the wake of the collapse of a state legislative study committee's drafting effort, a coalition of Wisconsin environmental, conservation and community organizations has again urged lawmakers to adopt a strong version of the Great Lakes Compact.

The groups' news release is here.

The Compact would require water conservation by Wisconsin communities and set first-time standards for the approval of limited diversions of Great Lakes water beyond the boundaries of the Great Lakes basin.

The legislative study committee stalled and disbanded after an unproductive year of meetings because Waukesha-area members wanted to ease diversion restrictions enabling their communities to pipe in Great Lakes water - - an outcome that would negate five years of work by negotiators from the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces to draft the proposed regional document.

With the committee now adjourned, the door is open to Wisconsin moving more seriously towards adopting a bill that effectively protects the Great Lakes in the public interest.