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Michigan water strategy

The State of Michigan has released a 30 year plan to protect and enhance water resources.

Office of the Great Lakes Director Jon Allen tells Brownfield the first phase of Michigan’s Water Strategy focuses on stewardship and healthy ecosystems.  “We’ve talked about ensuring safe drinking water, we’re talking about a 40 percent phosphorus reduction in the Western Lake Erie Basin as one of those elements, talking about the preservation—the protection against invasive species.”  The priorities also include investment of commercial harbors and development of a water trail system.

Allen says the farming community has been actively involved in reducing soil and nutrient runoff, but reducing phosphorus in Lake Erie will take a combined effort of the Great Lakes region.  “We really continue to look at everything from drainage practices and farming practices holding water, infiltration practices, fertilizer application rates and timing—all of those pieces are critical.”

He says ballast water has been one of the greatest sources of invasive species in the Great Lakes, but farmers need a way to move grain to market.  “Foreign ships especially come into the Great Lakes pick up grain in Duluth and in Michigan and other places and move that grain to foreign market, so we think it’s important to make sure we’re making the investments on the commercial maritime side.”  Allen says it’s important to have a healthy economy, but not at the risk of Great Lakes.

He says water quality is important to all communities, both urban and rural, and everyone needs to take responsibility.

AUDIO: Interview with Jon Allen