Hands off our water!

New Mexico Governor and Presidential contender Bill Richardson's suggestion last month that water rich states should share the wealth continues to echo in the chambers of government. Recently the eight Great Lakes Governors issued a joint statement calling on all Presidential hopefuls to outline their plans to preserve and protect the Great Lakes.

Specifically, the candidates were asked for their support of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact that would ban the diversion of Great Lakes water...

The governors also called on the candidates to support restoration efforts underway throughout the Great Lakes by endorsing and supporting the funding necessary to implement the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration's Restoration and Protection Strategy that was developed in 2005.

Meanwhile, back on capital hill, it's clear that Governor Richardson's comments have made Great Lakes lawmakers extremely suspicious of any call for a national water policy. Tempers flared when the House subcommittee on water resources and environment began discussing a seemingly innocuous proposal to study US water use and availability. As reported in the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Representatives Candice Miller and Vern Ehlers vigorously opposed the legislation.

Miller said: "Forgive me if I, as a representative of the Great Lakes State, become concerned when I hear people promoting a national water policy or strategy. But the only logical conclusion I can come to is that such a commission is subversive attempt to divert water from the Great Lakes to other parts of the United States.

"And I do not intend to let that happen."

Not to be outdone, Representative Ehlers made it clear what would happen if there was any attempt by other states to grab our water:

"I would suspect we'd call up the militia and take up arms," Ehlers said. "We feel that serious about it."

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Comments

[direfloyd]

I'm very glad to hear our representatives feel like that! Since our state is in the most economic trouble of the great lakes states I'm glad I don't hear any crazy ideas of giving in to the pressure. All the proposed Ethanol plant will probably leach too much water as it is.

[Eric Justian]

Sing it, brother.

[Eric Justian]

Sing it, brother.

[Jeff Doehner]

The Great Lakes Compact to regulate all inland water sources as supported by certain State Representatives must be stopped dead in its tracks. Inland waters not only consist of the Great Lakes but also the whole Great Lakes watershed. This includes but is not limited to ponds, streams, rivers and even the aquifers under our properties. The supporters of this policy want to actually meter private water wells and charge people for using what is rightfully theirs. People are losing their rights and more and more of their money everyday and we can’t sit back and let this go on any longer. Just because the water on or under our properties eventually flows back into the Great Lakes does not make it theirs while it’s actually under our property. The majority of supporters do not even live in the great lakes watershed. The powers to be are trying to slip this through with “clarifying language” but this is a smokescreen. It is basically another energy grab! We do not need the compact as we already have a federal law protecting diversion of the Great Lakes. If our water is in a state trust our God given right to water will be in the hands of a few and they can revoke our right to our own water at anytime. The air we breathe eventually flows away from our house. Do they want to regulate the air and eventually and charge us for it? When are people going to wake up and put a stop to all this nonsense?