Great Lakes Conservation Plans Need Public Comment: An Easy Guide Is Here

If a reliable water supply is important to you - - and why wouldn't it be? - - then here's how you can tell policy-makers across the Great Lakes region what kind of water conservation requirements and standards they should work into a joint US-Canada Great Lakes management agreement, known as a Compact.

Citizens and organizations can send opinions into a formal comment process, ending June 8th, that will determine whether there will be effective conservation programs in that Compact.

It covers an eight-state, two-Canadian province Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, which borders Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

This is important because the stresses that plague the Great Lakes - - invasive species, toxic fish viruses, dropping lake levels, pollution - - will be exacerbated by ever-growing demands for more water.

But how comprehensive will the conservation component be in Compact, which is undergoing its first overhaul since 1985?

And how strong?

Great Lakes United, an authoritative conservation organization with offices in Buffalo, NY and Montreal, Quebec, has posted an explanation of the comment process, along with other important and relevant information, here, and is urging that people participate.

It is important that Wisconsin interests get into this process.

Why?

First - - the Great Lakes make up 20% of the planet's fresh surface waters. We all need to take responsibility and help wisely manage a worldwide resource that happens to be on our doorstep.

Secondly - - is in our state, specifically in Waukesha County, where communities outside of the boundaries of the Great Lakes basin are already seeking (New Berlin) or are planning to seek (Waukesha) diversions of Lake Michigan water.

Both communities are touting their local conservation ordinances as they spiff up their plans to remove water from Lake Michigan.

Take the Waukesha sprinkling ordinance, for instance, said to be one the toughest anywhere.

It does limit lawn sprinkling for property owners to alternate days only - - but the first $50 ticket to a violator is issued only after three warnings.

Is that the best that Waukesha can do on behalf of regional water conservation - - levy fines against four-time losers?

Is that a model ordinance, or a barely-visible baby step that needs toughening - - something that could be accomplished if rule-makers in all the Great Lakes states heard through the comment process that the public wanted teeth in local water conservation regulations in order for Great Lakes states and their communities to be in compliance with the Compact.

And in state regulation and enforcement, too, by natural resource departments across the region, on behalf of the public interest and the commonly-held water resources in the Great Lakes basin.

So comments from Wisconsin residents are crucial to the fine-tuning of the Compact's water conservation standards, goals and implementation.

Residents, organizations and elected officials need to get their oars into the comment process before June 8th.

(Note: An archive of related materials is here.)