On behalf of its eight Great Lakes member states, the Great Lakes Commission has delivered a letter with its recommendations to Congress on resolving priority issues in the two versions of the Water Resource Development Act. Issues addressed include: - the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal carp barrier, - the Lake St. Clair - St. Clair River Comprehensive Management Plan, - the study of the relationships among dredging in the St. Clair River for navigation, erosion in the River, and water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron, - a second lock at Sault Ste. Marie, - planning assistance to states, - increasing the authorization level for projects under Section 1135, which provides funding for sea lamprey barriers, - a new authority to provide support for small dam removal - expanding the authority for the beneficial re-use of dredged sediments for restoration, habitat creation, construction and other projects. The text of the letter is below and the original is attached. The same version was sent to House of Representatives committee Chairman and Ranking Members. September 12, 2006 The Honorable James M. Inhofe The Honorable James M. Jeffords 453 Russell Senate Office Building 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-3603 Washington, D.C. 20510-4503 Re: Conference committee recommendations - Water Resources Development Act Dear Senators Inhofe and Jeffords: The Great Lakes Commission (GLC), an interstate compact agency founded in state and federal law, is dedicated to the informed use, management and protection of the Great Lakes basin. On behalf of our eight member states, we thank you for your strong support to reauthorize the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) that will protect and help to restore the Great Lakes and maintain the economic vitality of the region. The GLC has compared the versions of reauthorizing legislation passed by the House (H.R. 2864) and Senate (S. 728) and strongly urges the conferees to: * Support section 5006 of the Senate-passed bill, authorizing the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barriers Project, and section 3051(c) of H.R. 2864 authorizing a feasibility study, including the economic, social and environmental consequences, for the biological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins to prevent the spread of aquatic species. Authority and funding to complete the construction and continue the operation and maintenance of this barrier is essential to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. Commercial, municipal and recreation interests in both the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins have already been permanently harmed by aquatic invasive species. * Support section 3064 of the Senate-passed bill, authorizing projects consistent with the St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair Comprehensive Management Plan (developed under Sec. 426, WRDA 1999) and a 25 percent cost-sharing component, which may be provided through in-kind services and may include a non-profit entity. Lake St. Clair is a vital part of the connecting channel between Lake Huron and Lake Erie that is used for commercial navigation, drinking water and recreation for millions of people in Southeast Michigan and Ontario. The Senate language authorizes adequate funding to coordinate federal, state and local efforts to restore and protect the lake from problems that threaten public health and limit uses of the lake. It builds on a comprehensive management plan already in place and enjoys the support of local stakeholders and Michigan's Congressional delegation. * Support section 4053 of the House-passed bill, authorizing a study of relationships among dredging the St. Clair River for navigation, erosion of the river, and declining water levels in the river and in Lakes Michigan and Huron. This study is of critical importance to commercial navigation interests, shoreline property owners and others concerned about declining water levels. The study will ascertain whether channel modifications in the St. Clair River have permanently lowered water levels on Lakes Huron and Michigan, which provide nearly 40 percent of the total freshwater reserves of the Great Lakes. * Support section 3075 of the House-passed bill, authorizing construction of a second lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at full federal expense of $3.417 million. This provision is essential for the strategic and economic security of the nation. * Support section 2009 of the Senate-passed bill, authorizing technical assistance to state agency or non-federal interests in managing water resources at a level of $10.0 million annually. The reauthorization of this authority would maintain current funding levels for the Section 22, Planning Assistance to States program used extensively throughout the Great Lakes region. This authority has been used effectively to cost-share strategic municipal and county level projects focused on flood and erosion control, watershed water quality and habitat improvements and human health protection. * Support section 2034 of the Senate-passed bill, authorizing $50.0 million annually to carry out section 1135 of WRDA 1986. This authority is used to design and construct sea lamprey barriers and traps in the Great Lakes, which are critical to control and eradicate this invasive species and prevent it from devastating valuable sport fishery resources in the region. The Senate language increases the annual authorized funding level for this highly successful program, which faces greater demands than can be addressed under the current authority. * Support section 2037 of the Senate-passed bill, authorizing small dam removal or rehabilitation projects if it will improve the quality of the environment, or is in the public interest, with a non-federal cost share of 35 percent for construction and 100 percent of operation and maintenance costs, and provides $25.0 million for each fiscal year. Currently, most Great Lakes tributaries are biologically separated from the open waters of the Great Lakes by dams and other structures, reducing the capacity of the fishery to access necessary habitat. This new authority would allow for federal engineering support to States, counties and municipalities for critical watershed restoration projects supported by local interests. * Support section 2012 of the House-passed bill, authorizing the use of dredged sediment for projects in the public interest associated with navigation, flood damage reduction, hydroelectric power, municipal and industrial water supply, agricultural water supply, recreation, hurricane and storm damage reduction, aquatic plant control, and environmental protection and restoration, and to develop plans for regional management of sediment. Current WRDA authority limits the Corps' ability to use dredged material beneficially only for purposes of aquatic habitat restoration, resulting in lost opportunities for a variety of other beneficial in-water and upland purposes. Expanding authority for beneficial use of dredged material will reduce costs and preserve limited space in Confined Disposal Facilities and is a longstanding priority of the Great Lakes Dredging Team and is explicitly addressed in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. An outstanding example is the U.S. Steel South Works reclamation project in Chicago recently spearheaded by Lt. Governor Quinn of Illinois where dredged material was used to convert the slag-covered industrial site to lakefront parkland. Thank you for considering these important requests. The Commission and our eight Great Lakes member states appreciate your continued leadership on issues of priority interest to our region. Should you have any questions please contact Tim Eder, Executive Director, at 734-971-9135 or teder@glc.org. Sincerely, Thomas E. Huntley, Ph.D. Chairman Tim Eder, Exec Director Great Lakes Commission 2805 So Industrial Hwy, Suite 100 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-971-9135 ext 101 734-604-7281 teder@glc.org www.glc.org
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