GLIN==> New Report: Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in State, Federal Policy

National Wildlife Federation
 
New Report: Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in State, Federal
Policy
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—As efforts to restore the Great Lakes gain momentum in
the White House and U.S. Congress, a new report by the National Wildlife
Federation illustrates how gaps in state and federal policy threaten
Great Lakes wetlands.
 
“Great Lakes wetlands remain threatened,” said Marc Smith, state policy
manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional
Center. “States play a vital role in protecting our wetlands, water
quality and economy—and this report illustrates that they can be doing
more. Successful restoration of our Great Lakes depends on the
protection and restoration of the region’s wetlands.”
 
The report examines state wetland policies in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
and Minnesota. It assesses how well each state is protecting wetlands,
identifies the barriers to better protection, and offers recommendations
for improvement.
 
“This report underscores that states are doing many things well in the
effort to protect Great Lakes wetlands,” said Michael Murray, staff
scientist for the National Wildlife Federation’s Regional Center.
“However, states can do better to protect Great Lakes wetlands so
that we protect our environment and economy, before the problems get
worse and the solutions more costly.”
 
State efforts to protect and restore wetlands, according to the report,
are hampered by incomplete wetland inventories, inadequate staffing,
insufficient public engagement, and a lack of priorities to protect and
restore wetlands. 
 
Gaps in state law also undermine protection efforts. Exemptions which
allow for the destruction of wetlands are generally not tracked by state
agencies. Further, the quality of wetland mitigation projects is not
often tracked, allowing for the destruction of high-quality wetlands
that are replaced with wetlands of less value to people and wildlife.
 
“Protecting and Restoring the Kidneys of the Great Lakes: An Assessment
of Wetland Programs in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin” also
recommends how Great Lakes wetlands can be better protected. Among the
recommendations:
• Establish state priorities for restoring wetlands;
• Improve inventories of wetlands in states to gauge progress or
challenges; and,
• Restore Clean Water Act protections to isolated wetlands and other
U.S. waters left unprotected by recent Supreme Court decisions.
 
Wetlands provide essential services for people and wildlife. Wetlands
filter pollution out of water, control flooding, prevent erosion and
provide a home for waterfowl, fish and wildlife that is the foundation
of the region’s recreational economy. One acre of wetlands provides
$10,573 of ecosystem services, according to recent estimates.
 
However, Great Lakes wetlands are threatened by development. The region
has lost more than 50 percent of its historic wetlands. Some coastal
areas have lost more than 95 percent of wetlands.
 
Our partners had this to say about the report released today:
 
MICHIGAN:
“Thirty years ago, members of Michigan’s legislature enacted the
state’s Wetland Protection Act, which made Michigan a national leader
in wetland protection and management,” said Jennifer McKay, policy
specialist for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. “However, statutory
exemptions, budget cuts, lack of political will, and lack of enforcement
have hindered Michigan’s ability to fully protect the integrity of our
wetland ecosystems.  We have an opportunity in Michigan to build upon
the legacy begun 30 years ago and provide adequate protections essential
to the health of the Great Lakes.  By protecting Michigan’s wetlands, we
protect the essence of Michigan.”
 
MINNESOTA:
“We take pride in Minnesota's wetland laws, which for more than 15
years have helped reduce wetland losses,” said Henry VanOffelen, natural
resources scientist with Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
“But, as outlined in the report, even stronger wetland protection
laws with better accounting and enforcement are needed to meet the
challenges wetlands will face over the next 30 years.  Given expected
population growth in the region, protecting wetlands will also be more
important than ever to ensure good water quality and the integrity of
many habitats that fish and wildlife communities depend on.”
 
OHIO:
“Ohio has lost over 90% of its wetlands,” said David Celebrezze,
director of air and water special projects for Ohio Environmental
Council. “Strong protections are needed to ensure we keep those free
benefits they provide society such as slowing flood water, filtering
pollutants, and providing green space for recreation, education,
hunting, and fishing. However, the recent state budget proposal has us
backsliding, as it would cut Ohio EPA staff that investigate public
complaints and enforce our wetlands rules.”
 
WISCONSIN:
“While Wisconsin overall has a strong wetlands protection program,
there clearly needs to be improvements in wetland protection compliance
and enforcement, improvement in public involvement in decision-making,
the completion and updating of Wisconsin's wetland inventory and the
increase of staff to implement the program,” said George Meyer,
executive director for the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
 
National Wildlife Federation is America’s conservation organization
inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
 
Read the report, executive summary: http://www.nwf.org/greatlakes 
 
For Immediate Release:
July 7, 2009
 
Contact: 
Marc Smith, National Wildlife Federation, 734-887-7116
Michael Murray, National Wildlife Federation, 
David Celebrezze, Ohio Environmental Council, 614-487-7506 Ext. 115
Jennifer McKay, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, 231-347-1181 Ext.
114
George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, 608-516-5545
Henry VanOffelen, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy,
218-849-5270
Jordan Lubetkin, National Wildlife Federation, 734-887-7109
 
 
Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes Office
213 West Liberty, Suite 200 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104
 
Phone: 734-887-7109 | Fax: 734-887-7199 | Cell: 734-904-1589
 
NWF's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our
children's future. www.nwf.org/news/ 
 
Working to restore the Great Lakes by offering solutions to sewage
contamination, invasive species and other threats. www.healthylakes.org
( http://www.healthylakes.org/ )
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