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IMPORTANT NOTICE ON COMMITTEE MEETING ON BEACH
GROOMING
You should
have received an urgent action alert calling all Michigan Wetland
Advocates to action to show up at the joint Senate and House
committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 3 pm (Room
519, House
Office Building). It is still extremely important for
everyone who can to show up at the meeting but due to the already
full agenda, it is extremely unlikely they will be taking public
testimony.
While you
will NOT have the
opportunity to provide testimony at this hearing, it will provide you
with the opportunity to hear from the researchers who completed the
scientific studies proving the beach grooming activities have long
last adverse impact upon coastal wetlands. Additionally, the Director of the
DEQ, Steven Chester, will be on hand to provide testimony on the
recommendations by the DEQ as a result of this report.
Be sure to
look for future updates and information as another hearing will be
held that will allow for public testimony.
CAN THE TIDES TURN ON “BEACH GROOMING”?
In June 2003, Michigan’s
Legislature passed and the Governor signed the first substantive
amendments to weaken the state’s wetland law since it was passed
nearly 25 years ago. PA
14 amended Michigan’s wetland law to
allow certain types of “beach grooming” activities on exposed Great Lakes bottomlands and to authorize
limited removal of coastal wetland vegetation in specified pilot
areas under a letter of authorization from the DEQ director.
To
some, the law may seem innocuous–“beach grooming” sounds benign.
However,
when you consider that vegetation growing on exposed bottomlands is the
key to the biological and ecological functions including fish and
wildlife habitat, erosion and flood control and water quality
maintenance, then by definition, vegetation clearing and mechanized
grooming facilitated by PA 14 will greatly impact the functions and
values of Great Lakes coastal wetlands and ultimately the health of
our Lakes.
Perhaps
the only redeeming quality of the legislation is that the provisions
authorizing the beach maintenance exemptions and the expedited permit
for vegetation removal are scheduled to “sunset.” This means the
legislature has a chance to reconsider the policy direction taken
back in 2003. The letter of authorization from the DEQ director will
sunset on June 5, 2006 and the exemptions for beach maintenance
expire in November 2007. To
prevent further degradation of our coastal wetlands and Great Lakes, these damaging provisions must be
repealed.
Also
included in the original legislation is a provision that requires the
DEQ to evaluate these activities and report back to the Legislature
and the Governor with findings and recommendations. This report was released earlier
this week; the basis for the report is research conducted over the
2004 and 2005 field seasons by a team of independent researchers from
Michigan State University
and Grand
Valley State University. Based upon the findings from the
research, we now have validation that vegetation removal and beach
grooming activities negatively impact the health of the Great Lakes.
Specifically,
the report finds that beach grooming activities:
Ø
Result in fundamental changes to the chemical and
physical conditions in near shore waters,
Ø
Decreases the numbers and diversity of adult
fish, including many important sport fish, and invertebrates
Ø
Negatively impact larval fish through the loss of
habitat and changes to near shore water chemistry, and
Ø
Promotes the spread of invasive plant species
along the shore.
So,
the tides could once again turn on beach grooming…only this time turn
to protect our coastal wetlands and Great Lakes.
The Legislature had enough insight to include the provision to
evaluate the impacts of beach grooming; we can hope they use that
same insight, along with sound scientific research, to repeal the
damaging parts of the law. To
ensure this is the case, we encourage you to contact you State
Senator and Representative and urge them to repeal the director’s
letter and beach maintenance exemptions. Let the tides turn and the sun set
on beach grooming.
To view the report in its
entirety, visit http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3687-10202--,00.html.
WETLAND
WEBCASTS AVAILABLE
Join the Izaak Walton League for two live
Webcasts that will help you conserve wetlands and provide a home for
wildlife while creating beautiful landscaping for your home, office
or schoolyard. Wetland-Friendly Lawn and Garden (March 28,
8:00-10:00pm, EST) includes information on how to create rain
gardens, install rain barrels, landscape with native plants, and
reduce pesticide and fertilizer use. Wet Spots into Wonderlands
(April 25, 8:00-10:00pm, EST) will help you learn the benefits of
having wetlands on your property, how to protect those wetlands, and
how to create vernal pools or bog gardens. In addition to the live
programs, there will be hundreds of resources available on the League’s
Web site to help you get started with these projects. These programs
will also be broadcast on cable and satellite television stations in North Carolina
and may also be broadcast on other stations across the country. Visit
http://www.iwla.org/ to register.
RESTORE AMERICA’S
ESTUARIES NATIONAL CONFERENCE – LAST CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
Proposals
for Presentations and Posters will be accepted through March 31st
and April 20th, respectively. The Call for Presentations and
Posters, the Proposal Application Form and more information are
available on the Conference website at: http://www.estuaries.org/conference. Presentations and Poster should
emphasize best practices and lessons learned within one or more of
the Conference’s themes and topics.
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