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CLEAN
WATER RESTORATION ACT INTRODUCED
On Tuesday, May 22, 2007, 155 Members of
Congress joined Representatives Oberstar [MN-8], Dingell [MI-15] and
Ehlers [MI-3] to introduce the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007
(HR 2421). Passage
of this vital legislation will mean that the original intent of the
Clean Water Act to broadly protect our nation's waters,
will be restored. This legislation would uphold the traditional scope
of protection intended by Congress to achieve the goal of restoring
and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of
the nation’s waters. Passage
is essential to protecting the myriad of water resources we all love
and enjoy in Michigan. The Clean Water Restoration Act
(CWRA) will return us, in Michigan
and throughout the country, to the path toward further progress to
restore the nation’s waters to make them safe and clean.
Please
take a moment to thank the Congressional leaders from Michigan who
recognize the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Clean
Water Act. We applaud clean
water champions Representatives Dingell and Ehlers for introducing
the Clean Water Restoration Act and Representatives Conyers [MI-14],
Kildee [MI-5], Kilpatrick [M-13], Levin [MI-12], and Stupak [MI-1]
for becoming original cosponsors.
We
hope the other members of Michigan’s
Congressional Delegation who have yet to sign on to this essential
legislation will do so to protect our waters, the lifeblood of Michigan. If your Representative has not
signed on, contact them today and urge them to support protection of Michigan’s
lakes, streams, and wetlands.
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Memorial Day weekend marked the start of
Michigan’s
tourist season as many travelers made their way to experience and
enjoy our many magnificent waters. But, the waters we know and enjoy
are being impacted by invaders that have already changed the
ecosystem and more threaten to enter our waters if something isn’t
done soon. As if over 180
invasive species already introduced in the Great Lakes ecosystem
wasn’t bad enough, one of the latest invaders may significantly alter
the summer experience for Michigan’s
visitors and residents.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a
disease that causes fish to bleed internally. Discovered in Lake
Huron in 2005, the disease spread and recently was discovered in Budd Lake,
an inland lake in Clare County (in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula). Confirming Department of
Natural Resources biologists fear, the disease was recently
identified in dead fish on the shores of Wisconsin
on Lake
Michigan. VHS is
a disease that has the potential to devastate entire fish
populations. There is no known cure or vaccination. VHS is not a
native disease and like so many other aquatic invaders, is suspected
to have been delivered to our waters in the ballast of ocean-going
vessels. Michigan’s
Natural Resources Commission introduced draft regulations to try to
prevent the spread of this disease at their May meeting. These regulations will be voted on
in June. Anglers must make
certain that fish they catch in VHS-infected waters are not released
into any waters that have been listed as free of VHS. The transport
of bait is also prohibited.
Anglers must also make certain that bait obtained from a
VHS-positive area be used only in another VHS-positive area.
Meanwhile, Federal
legislators continue to drag their feet on a bill that would help
stop the flow of invasive species. The National Aquatic Invasive
Species Act (S. 725), introduced by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), would
enact national ballast water laws that will require appropriate
treatment for ballast to kill any potential invasive species before
they can be dumped into the Great Lakes. This comprehensive legislation
would initiate a plan to help prevent and control invasive species
that enter the Great Lakes in the
future. There is far too much
at stake to wait any longer to respond to the tide of invasive
species. It is essential for
the federal government to act
swiftly to prevent new introductions. Contact your member of Congress
and let them know that you want to see comprehensive aquatic invasive
species legislation enacted to ensure our Great
Lakes heritage and way of life is protected for future
generations to enjoy.
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