by Gongwer News Service
July 11, 2008

Culminating what arguably was one of the most important deeds of the Michigan Legislature so far this year, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law this week the Great Lakes Compact, sending a message to Congress about how the water rich states hope to manage their resource for years to come. Perhaps more importantly, the package sends a message to Michigan voters that lawmakers and interest groups can wade through their agendas and meet at a compromise.

While not everyone is fully satisfied with the final product, the 12-bill package was largely embraced as a success and is nothing if not a prime example of compromise that can still be born out of years of passionate, sometimes contentious debate.

Unclear, however, is whether the Great Lakes Compact will be seen as a model to follow or a one-time victory. There are other issues pending before lawmakers that could benefit from the same cooperation.

Much of the debate centered over whether to include public trust language that would limit withdrawals further; how much water to allow the bottled water industry and how exactly to measure appropriate withdrawal levels.

The issue of public trust seems to still be a sticking point for at least one group. Clean Water Action released a statement saying that although it supports the negotiated standards in the compact, the group is still “deeply disappointed” that Senate Republicans refused to add the public trust language, which had been approved by the House.

Meanwhile, agricultural and farming groups, who opposed that language, fearing that it would infringe on their rights and ability to conduct business, celebrated the signing of the compact.

They said the compromise would ensure the agricultural industry remains strong by protecting Michigan’s water from diversion while still allowing farmers to use water for their crops as long as their usage doesn’t damage the environment.

As for the issue of how to cap withdrawals, some originally set out to do so at a set gallon point, while others said it made more sense to use a sophisticated system of monitoring water levels to decide when to cut off withdrawals based on environmental impacts.

The latter system won out, with the Senate’s lead sponsor of the package, Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck), saying that although environmental leaders didn’t get all of the measures they wanted, the scientific standards built into the bills will ensure that Michigan’s water is protected from harmful withdrawals.

Despite remaining friction from some groups, Ms. Birkholz said, the decision not to get waylaid by some rather sticky subjects — and instead come to a meeting of the minds that would protect resources and business interests — should send a signal to the public that the legislature can come together and enact meaningful legislation.

The compact, now approved by all eight states in the Great Lakes Basin, now goes to Congress for approval. If enacted, it would put limits on how water can be transported out of the Great Lakes Basin without approval of all eight governors and place limits on how much water can be drawn out of surface and ground waters of the state to avoid affecting other users and the ecosystems those waters feed.

Property owners will be able to determine whether they need a state permit for a proposed well through a new online water withdrawal assessment tool.

Now that everyone has jumped into the pool of cooperation at least once, observers are waiting to see if they can repeat the trick with such issues as energy and utility regulation and agreement on a new Detroit River International Crossing.

For nearly 50 years in Michigan, Gongwer News Service has provided independent, comprehensive, accurate and timely coverage of issues in and around Michigan’s government and political systems. For subscription information, including a free trial, visit Gongwer online.