Caucus to meet in Cleveland; registration now open and travel stipend available

The ninth meeting of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus was the group’s largest event yet, with close to 60 lawmakers and others from the Great Lakes states and provinces traveling to Indianapolis in July for a series of sessions and discussions on critical basin-wide issues.

Minnesota Sen. Ann Rest oversaw the one-day event as caucus chair.

The meeting began with a talk by Cameron Davis, a senior advisor to the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who discussed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative — an unprecedented commitment by the federal government to fund projects that restore the lakes. 

In his talk, too, Davis stressed just how valuable — and finite — the lakes are: Only 3 percent of the world’s water supply is fresh water, and of that 3 percent total, only 0.3 percent is surface water.

“Clean, fresh water is more and more of a premium,” Davis said. “Demand is skyrocketing.”
"If we don’t invest in the upkeep of our Great Lakes, if we fail to take care of them, they will not take care of us,” he added.

Much of the remainder of the meeting focused on the states’ role in restoring and protecting a system that accounts for one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. During a roundtable discussion, lawmakers shared recent developments in their states.

• Indiana Sen. Joe Zakas briefed fellow lawmakers on SB 157, which was passed this year and directs the state’s Environmental Quality Service Council to examine issues related to the supply and quality of Great Lakes water.

• Illinois Rep. Robyn Gabel talked to lawmakers about HB 1558. Signed into law this year, the bill creates a council to guide the state on policies related to the siting of offshore wind projects on Lake Michigan. 

• Minnesota Rep. Rick Hansen provided details on a new law that strengthens his state’s efforts to manage and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. SF 1115 fortifies the state’s inspection of boats and creates new rules for boaters and property owners.

• Ohio Rep. Dave Hall led a discussion among members about the ongoing debate over water management proposals in his state related to compliance with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.

In July, Ohio Gov. John Kasich vetoed HB 231, saying the measure “lacks clear standards for conservation and withdrawals and does not allow for sufficient evaluation and monitoring of withdrawals or usage.” 

The legislation has also been opposed by key environmental groups in Ohio.

• Michigan Sen. Howard Walker led a discussion about a package of bills in his state (SB 508-510) that would establish a new basin-wide council of Great Lakes states that guides policies on preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.
  
Before its roundtable discussion, the caucus heard from experts on a wide range of issues— such as ongoing efforts to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes, the feasibility of ecologically separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds, and the progress being made in cleaning up 43 toxic hot spots in the Great Lakes designated by the U.S. and Canadian governments as “Areas of Concern.”

The caucus also lent its support to a resolution by Michigan Sen. Darwin Booher calling for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accelerate its study of how to prevent the movement of aquatic invasive species through the Chicago Area Waterway System — which connects the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds. 

This resolution was later passed by the Midwestern Legislative Conference.