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For Immediate Release More
Information: Friday, January 25, 2008 Cyndi
Roper, 517-490-1394 Cynthia
Price, 586-258-6069 Tom
Thompson, 231-894-4313 Town Hall on Water
Withdrawal and Export: Citizens Say: We Decide Where Our Great Lakes Waters
Go! MUSKEGON, MI. About one
hundred Muskegon area residents told a trio of state lawmakers Thursday
that they support strong measures this year to protect Lake Michigan shoreline
communities against the threat of large-scale water withdrawals that could
impact local rivers and the area’s tourist economy. The comments came at a Town Hall meeting sponsored by the
Great Lakes, Great Michigan coalition as Lansing lawmakers debate competing
bills that will likely shape the future of Michigan’s water use. Residents also heard from a panel of
water experts who discussed ways to protect Great Lakes water – which accounts
for 20 percent of the fresh surface water on the planet. At the Town Hall meeting, Representative
Mary Valentine (D-91) spoke in favor of strengthening state laws to protect
groundwater, saying, “As water shortages increase, water will become as
valuable as gold. Michigan, the Great Lakes state, must lead the way in
protecting the Great Lakes by passing strong legislation to protect our water
for future generations.” Valentine is sponsoring legislation that
would tighten restrictions on water withdrawals and provide public trust
protection to groundwater. Also
attending Thursday’s Town Hall meeting were Representative Doug Bennett (D-92),
a supporter of Valentine’s legislation, and Senator Gerald Van Woerkom, (R-34),
who supports a package of Senate bills that provide weak protections overall
for groundwater. Don Studaven, Blue Lake
Township Supervisor, spoke of his surprise to learn of interest from a large
water bottling firm in accessing groundwater on the township’s treasured scout
camp, Camp Owassippee, well after preliminary work had begun. He pointed to a resolution supporting
strong water use legislation recently
passed by the Michigan Townships Association as evidence of the interest by
township officials in stronger protections for groundwater. He said, “With stronger laws, we will
know what’s happening with our water from day one, not after the fact when it’s
too late.” Amy L. VanLoon, Executive Director of the
White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce VanLoon provided the Chamber’s viewpoint in
a letter provided to state legislators at the Town Hall meeting. She cited
economics as the reason for the Chamber’s support of the legislative package
endorsed by the Great Lakes, Great Michigan coalition, saying, “The building
blocks of the economy in the White Lake area are its natural water resources.
The lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands not only make this a special place to
live, but have also become our number one product to market and attract
visitors and tourists.” “Studies have suggested that water withdrawals have direct effects
on local rivers and streams;” said Dr. Mark Luttenton, of GVSU, at the Town
Hall meeting. He cautioned, “The
important connection between groundwater and lakes and rivers
needs to be carefully weighed by state legislators as they craft new water use
legislation, which should be based on science.” Panelist and attorney Chris Bzdok, of
the law firm, Olson, Bzdok & Howard, P.C. said Michigan’s water laws
must be strengthened to extend Michigan’s public trust doctrine—which
safeguards many waterways—to groundwater that is now threatened by large-scale
withdrawals from international water exporters. “Groundwater deserves protection under Michigan’s public
trust doctrine,” said Bzdok. “This provides a way to safeguard the public’s
interest in protecting the values that groundwater provide, in particular,
their role in feeding Michigan’s many rivers and lakes.” Cyndi Roper from
Clean Water Action, one of the event’s sponsors, said the strong turnout
Thursday indicates Lansing lawmakers are being watched closely as they decide
whether to support or oppose strong water laws. “West Michigan citizens understand the value of water and
the value of their participation in the decision-making process,” said
Roper. “We applaud their
foresight.” The Great Lakes, Great Michigan
coalition, consisting of groups from throughout the state of Michigan,
advocates legislation currently being debated in the House of
Representatives (House Bills 4343 and 5065-5073), as well as several companion
bills in the Senate, Senate Bills 721-729. For more
information, visit www.greatlakesgreatmichigan.org
Tanya Cabala Great
Lakes Consulting 714
Alice Street Whitehall,
MI 49461 Office: 231-981-0016 Cell: 231-571-3022 tcabala@charter.net |