Great Lakes Cities Initiative newspaper article

["Shannon Briggs" <briggssl@michigan.gov>]

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0502/09/B06-83987.htm

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Cities want bigger say on Lakes

They are demanding a leading role in setting up rules and programs to protect water quality.

Associated Press

TRAVERSE CITY -- When high bacteria levels in Grand Traverse Bay forced beach closures a few years ago, no one from the state or federal governments rushed to the rescue. 

Local officials had to deal with the situation, apparently caused -- at least partly -- by sewage system overflows in Traverse City during heavy rains. 

It's one of many problems involving Great Lakes water quality that municipal leaders often encounter, yet they seldom have played a leading role in developing regulations and programs for protecting the lakes. 

Now, mayors and other city officials are demanding a bigger voice on water policies that can affect their budgets and economy, says David Ullrich, director of the Great Lakes Cities Initiative. 

"They are realizing that the kinds of issues they're facing, though they may appear local, are quite common across the Great Lakes," Ullrich said last week after meeting with officials in Traverse City. "They want their views taken into consideration because when the time comes for implementing solutions, a lot of the responsibility falls on local government." 

The group was established in 2003 at the urging of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Since then, 55 cities have joined and begun sharing ideas on matters ranging from zebra mussels clogging water-intake pipes to restoring tainted waterfronts. 

Ullrich, a former deputy regional administrator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said the organization will try to assert its influence this year as several wide-ranging Great Lakes programs are debated on the state, federal and international levels. Among them: 

* Annex 2001, a proposal for regulating withdrawals of Great Lakes water for use within the drainage basin and possible diversions outside the basin. The Council of Great Lakes Governors took public comments last fall and is expected to approve a revised version this summer. 

* The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a blueprint for controlling pollution and cleaning up toxic hot spots first enacted in 1972, is scheduled for review and possible revision. 

* A Cabinet-level task force established by President Bush last year is expected to issue a draft plan in July for coordinating dozens of state and federal programs designed to improve the Great Lakes environment. 

Officials in towns and cities -- especially those located directly by the lakes -- can bring a unique perspective to the talks because they're closer to the waters and to citizens demanding action, Ullrich said. 

"They have a much greater sense of urgency in dealing with the problems and a more practical approach to solving them," he said. "They've got to solve them or they get voted out of office. So what I'm telling mayors is that they really do have a voice and they should start using it." 

Traverse City joined the Great Lakes Cities Initiative not long after it was established. Mayor Linda Smyka said an idea exchange forum on its Web site was proving valuable for members. 




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