[Riverweb] Support the Greal Lakes Compact

[Prairie Rivers Network]

To the members and supporters of Prairie Rivers Network and all advocates of healthy, clean rivers in Illinois: 
Every day we hear news of another water crisis: water shortages and poor water quality are having devastating impacts on drinking water supplies and water dependent ecosystems and economies.

We have our own water crisis here in Illinois. The finite waters of Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes suffer continuous degradation from threats that include invasive species, toxic pollutants and exportation schemes.

During this legislative session Illinois' General Assembly is responding to this crisis by considering passage of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Resources Compact ("the Compact").  As of April 25th, both the House and Senate had passed their respective versions of Compact legislation, and sent them to the other chamber for consideration.

What you can do: Continue to voice your support for cleaner, healthier Great Lakes water and water dependent resources by asking your elected officials to ensure Co9mpact adoption in Illinois.  Because the Compact is an interstate compact (contract) it must be ratified by all eight Great Lake states to become legally binding and enforceable. 

Interested in a presentation or need more information? Call Prairie Rivers Network at 217-344-2371 or email csmith at prairierivers.org. Fact sheets and other information is also available on our website  http//:www.prairierivers.org

Background.  Although the Great Lakes contain approximately 20 percent of the world's fresh water, only 1 percent of that water is actually renewable. Of the ten million people who live in the Lake Michigan area six million are Illinois residents who rely on Lake Michigan as a source of drinking water. Lake Michigan and its waters are valued by Illinois residents and tourists for the multitude of activities and economies it supports.

The Compact is an agreement made among the eight Great Lakes Governors for managing the Great Lakes water resources. The purpose of the Compact is to protect, conserve, improve and restore Great Lakes water resources.  The Compact is unique among existing Great Lakes laws and agreements because it provides legally enforceable standards for approving proposals for new large volume water withdrawals.

The Compact identifies the Great Lakes Basin as a single hydrological unit and recognizes that Great Lakes waters support a variety of uses from recreation to commercial fishing to supporting wildlife. The Compact's decision making standards are designed to maintain healthy, sustainable levels of water, as well as the integrity of the Basin's varied ecosystems.

Illinois could become the second state to adopt the Compact, setting an example for the remaining states of the importance of Compact adoption for the future of Great Lakes residents, wildlife, and economies. 

As of the end of April 2007, the Compact has been signed into law in Minnesota. In addition to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and New York also have legislation pending; two of the remaining Great Lakes States plan to introduce Compact bills during their 2007 sessions.      

 

 
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