As a source of drinking water, a beloved recreation area and key commercial and shipping route the Great Lakes are facing massive environmental threats. Clean Water Action, as a leading member of the Healing Our Waters coalition, is working to protect the Great Lakes we love and clean them up for future generations to enjoy.

Keeping Invasive Species Out: Better Ballast Water Standards

A recent study by Notre Dame University found that invasive species brought in by ocean-going ships may cost the Great Lakes region over $200 million per year. The ballast water from large cargo ships is a major source of invasive species around in the Great Lakes. Efforts to stem the introduction and spread of invasive species through ballast water regulation are moving forward at the federal and state level.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R.2830 and S.1892) passed the House and awaits final action in the Senate. The House version requires the treatment of ballast water discharge from ocean-going cargo ships to remove invasive species by 2016. Efforts continue in the Senate to include similar requirements. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has continued with their parallel plans to regulate ballast water discharged into Minnesota waters of Lake Superior. Regulation is expected to begin October 1, 2008.

Federal and Minnesota approaches differ in several key ways. First, the Federal bill will require ballast water treatment only on ocean-going vessels while MPCA will require treatment on all large vessels. Water quality standards for discharge are more stringent in the Federal bill. Finally, the current House version of the Federal bill will prevent Minnesota from continuing its efforts to regulate ballast water discharges. Negotiations continue in order to strengthen the Federal bill with a Senate vote still possible this year.

Great Lakes Compact: Curbing Reckless Water Withdrawal

We all should be able to enjoy Lake Superior for generations to come. Unfortunately, the waters of Lake Superior are at risk of being sold to the highest bidder. In 1998, an Ontario company got a permit to ship millions of gallons of Lake Superior water to Asia. Fortunately, public outcry stopped the unprecedented water grab. Yet various proposals to build pipelines draining water from the Great Lakes increase the urgency to protect this precious non?renewable resource. Because of a recent drought, Lake Superior’s water levels are at an eighty year low. Reduced water levels are a threat to wetlands as well as Minnesotans’ way of life and the region’s economy. Minnesota recreation, jobs, fish and wildlife all rely on the quality of Lake Superior.

December 2005, the governors of the eight Great Lakes states signed a Water Resources Compact for the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. After years of negotiation and extensive public testimony, the Compact is the first step in creating a framework to protect Lake Superior as well as the other four Great Lakes. To be enforceable the Compact must be ratified by the legislatures of all eight states, and then approved by Congress. Minnesota was the first to ratify the Compact in 2008.

The Great Lakes Compact:

• Provides environmental standards for judging new water withdrawal proposals for the first time;
• Bans water diversions from the basin, with limited exceptions;
• Allows the region to retain control over Great Lakes water;
• Provides a minimum standard, allowing each State to provide greater protection;
• Reflects tens of thousands of comments from people concerned about the Great Lakes.

Other Great Lakes states look to Minnesota as a model of stewardship. We are known for having some of the best water resources laws anywhere. Ratification continues our tradition of leadership in this area.