The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is taking an important step forward by supporting the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. I am sponsoring a resolution, which was unanimously approved by the County Board’s Parks, Energy and Environment Committee last week, urging State and Federal lawmakers to make the compact a reality.
The County Board will vote on the resolution this Thursday.
However, I believe this compact can be strengthened to better protect Wisconsin residents whose lives and livelihoods depend on the Great Lakes. The world’s largest source of fresh surface water is right here on our doorstep. It is our duty to protect it. Long-term consumption and diversion of this water can have a significant impact on both our environment and our economy.
The resolution includes several suggested improvements:
- Requiring measurable, meaningful water conservation practices.
- Requiring environmentally responsible return of diverted water.
- Closing the bottled water loophole that would let multinational corporations profit from public water resources by allowing diversions one bottle at a time.
- Setting permit and monitoring standards for large water users within the Great Lakes basin.
- Maintaining the integrity of the Great Lakes watershed by establishing fixed community boundaries.
- Assuring an open, public approval process for diversions requests and provide public enforcement options.
Wisconsin has an opportunity to set a forward-thinking example for other Great Lakes states with strong policies, enacted and adhered to by all Wisconsinites. We, and the citizens of all Great Lakes states, have the right to manage, protect and conserve these waters for residents of all states whose lives and livelihoods depend on them.
The compact is not binding until ratified by the legislatures of each Great Lakes State and approved by the U.S. Congress. I hope Gov. Jim Doyle, the Wisconsin Legislature and Congress approve a strengthened Great Lakes Compact in a timely fashion. By implementing these additional improvements, we can more effectively protect and manage Great Lakes basin waters.
The ecosystem in our Great Lakes has already been damaged. We must take responsibility for this damage and take steps to become responsible stewards of our fresh water resources. The compact is the beginning of this stewardship.
Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan Jr. represents the 16th District.
