A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday December 17, 2004

				In This Issue: MWAC / Lone Tree Council Purchase Bay City Times Ad Legislature closes shop for 2004, Bad Bills die Further Your Wetlands Communication with GLAHNF "Toolbox" MWAC / LONE TREE COUNCIL PURCHASE BAY CITY TIMES AD Thanks to generous funding support from the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund (GLAHNF), the Lone Tree Council and MWAC were recently able to place an ad in the Bay City Times. The ad comes on the heals of recent disputes in the Bay City area over clear wetland violations where the DEQ had been described as infringing on private property rights. The joint MWAC / Lone Tree Council ad was designed to promote some of the functions and values of wetlands in a visually appealing way. The ad also highlights the importance of having state and federal agencies enforce wetland laws. MWAC and the Lone Tree Council plan to continue to work on communicating the importance of wetland protection in the Bay City area and throughout the State of Michigan. View the ad here LEGISLATURE CLOSES SHOP FOR 2004 – GIVE THE GIFT OF WETLANDS IN 2005 The State Legislature has finished for 2004, and thanks to the efforts of Michigan's wetland advocates, several Bad Bills were not passed during the recent lame duck session. Despite the attempts to weaken the State wetland program during the past year, we have been successful on many fronts. We have turned the tide on coastal wetland destruction. We have developed relationships with key legislators to promote wetland protection. And most importantly, we have re-energized ourselves in this endeavor. Looking ahead to 2005, why not start the year off right by giving the gift of wetlands? We have a limited supply of merchandise left from the 25^th anniversary wetland conference, and are now able to make an incredible offer for Michigan's wetland advocates. For the purchase of a conference t-shirt at regular price, we will send you a FREE conference mug! They make perfect gifts for our elected representatives! Order your merchandise here			Free Communi-cations Toolkit Available Now! Send in Application ASAP! GLAHNF is offering a wonderful new communications "toolbox" (actually a cd-rom). The Great Lakes – Connecting Communities Toolbox provides FREE, focused, ready-to-use content and communications products related to water quality and quantity issues, habitat protection and invasive species in the Great Lakes Basin. While the deadline for requesting a Toolbox is today, if you send in the request asap and call 231-347-1181 x. 107, you can still take advantage of this wonderful offer. Download the request form
	Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street , Petoskey, Michigan 49770 Phone: (231) 347-1181 x 118 Fax: (231) 347-5928 Email: chrisgrubb@watershedcouncil.org Web: http://www.michiganwetlands.org