Issue Position: Great Lakes Restoration

Issue Position

The Great Lakes are a treasure essential to both Michigan and the entire nation. The lakes hold nearly one-fifth of the world's surface water and forty-two million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water.

Many Michiganders are not aware of the urgent problems facing the Great Lakes we so often take for granted.

Sadly, our lakes suffer damage every day through untreated sewage, toxic pollutants and aquatic invasive species. The ecosystem surrounding the lakes is breaking down. Every 28 weeks a new non-native species is discovered in the Great Lakes and 23 billion gallons of raw sewage has been dumped into the lakes by antiquated wastewater treatment facilities.

More than two-thirds of the wetlands that serve to cleanse water, prevent erosion and provide a home for fish and wildlife have been lost along the Great Lakes. Populations of aquatic life, such as perch and white fish, are disappearing in areas these species formerly thrived.

I am part of a broad, bi-partisan coalition in Congress that is working to implement a strategy for the restoration, protection and sustainable use of the Great Lakes. That strategy, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC), is a wide-ranging, cooperative effort supported by a variety of individuals from all walks of life.

The GLRC legislation would eliminate existing and prevent future aquatic invasive species from entering lakes whileIssue Position: Great Lakes Restoration restoring the valuable Great Lakes wetlands. GLRC also involves updating city waste treatment plants to prevent the lakes against sewage contamination and protect our beaches. It would clean up dangerously contaminated sediments in Great Lakes harbors and protect waterfront communities.

The GLRC legislation is supported by hunters, environmentalists, scientists, industry leaders, community officials and state agencies across the Great Lakes region.

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