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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Capt. Dan Manyen: FYI
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Captain Ron Dubsky
Secretary MCBA
800-622-2971
Subject: Congress Overrides Veto to Address Critical Water Infrastructure Needs
Dear Mr. Grinold:
I thought you might be interested in knowing about legislation the Senate passed today to address America’s critical water infrastructure needs. The Senate voted 79 to14 to override President Bush’s recent veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA, H.R.1495). Since the House of Representatives previously voted to override the veto, it now becomes law.
On September 24, 2007, I supported the initial passage of the WRDA conference report in the Senate, which was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 81 to 12. I believe it is critical that we invest in domestic priorities, such as water infrastructure projects, which enhance our economic competitiveness, improve our environment, and provide valuable services to the public. We have waited more than seven years to enact a bill that effectively addresses our nation’s water infrastructure needs. Unfortunately, President Bush chose to veto this long overdue legislation, leaving it up to Congress to address these critical priorities.
Included in WRDA are several measures that will help the shipping and boating industries in Michigan. I wrote a provision in this law that helps address the serious problem of dredging backlogs in the Great Lakes by directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to expedite the maintenance and dredging of important navigational channels within the Great Lakes. This measure will help to alleviate some of the hardship caused by delays in dredging projects, which have been exacerbated by the historically low water levels throughout the Great Lakes. In addition to the dredging measures, WRDA contains an important provision that will help to ensure the viability of Great Lakes shipping for years to come by waiving the non-federal cost share requirement for construction of an additional lock in the Soo Locks system in Sault Ste. Marie. The Soo Locks currently handle two-thirds of the carrying capacity of U.S . Great Lakes shipping and are in serious need of a second large lock to protect shipping-reliant industries throughout Michigan.
WRDA also addresses two important environmental issues for Michigan: combined sewer overflows and invasive species. This law authorizes $35 million for a statewide program to upgrade outdated combined sewer systems throughout Michigan, which often overflow after periods of heavy precipitation. This program will help protect the Great Lakes ecosystem in a sensible and effective manner by mitigating a major source of pollution entering the Lakes. WRDA also works to stop the movement of invasive species, like the Asian carp, into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River watershed. This law authorizes the Army Corps to construct, operate, and maintain two dispersal barriers in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal at full federal cost, thus helping to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem by stemming the flow of invasive species into its waters.
Making sound investments in our nation’s infrastructure has long been one of my highest priorities. WRDA will provide our nation with the opportunity to make critical vital infrastructure upgrades and protect the environment. I am pleased this long overdue legislation will has now become law. If you would like to view my full press release on the Water Resources Development Act, please click on the following link: [http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=287069].
Sincerely,
Carl Levin | |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I like the information on invasive species and dispersal barriers in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal. But after reading news articles on dredging of navigational channels within the Great Lakes I remain cautious on the impacts of the fishery and the water levels. I can understand the need from the perspective of the shipping industry BUT we may be putting another band aid on a problem. We should be finding out WHY the water levels keep going down versus continually making shipping lanes deeper.
It may be an unpopular opinion but I believe that we as a society should look at the shipping industry on the Great Lakes and ask if it is all really necessary. I believe that the technology and society needs of the water may have changed enough for us to consider reducing the shipping on the Great Lakes.
Water loss in the Great Lakes is creating a dilemma for shipping companies. The more water we lose, the less cargo the ships that travel in the Great Lakes can carry, and each time that happens, shipping companies lose money. Ultimately, it's people like you and I who are going to pay the price. Lake Ontario's water level has dropped three inches in October alone. Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior are well below normal, and Superior could soon hit a record low set in 1926. | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I agree with everything you said Dennis. We should be looking into how to put a plug in this fresh water well, we call the great lakes. The best thing about this new law to me, is that finally Saginaw will get needed funds to build bigger sewage holding/processing ponds and get a handle on their massive sewage spills that occur every time they get an inch of rain or more. We have several ecoli warnings every summer, virtually every time it rains. Saginaw is bankrupt like so many Michigan cities and this is the only way this seeping source of pollution can get fixed. | |
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| Did you know they have a big ass canal that bypasses the niagra falls. they can regualte the falls with this canal. I think only 25% of the true water passes over the falls dring the day. At night they basically turn it off. water used for hydro and drinking water in the canal. so how much is by passed. How much do all the cities on the lakes suck out? Where are the answers? And they want to put a pipeline in to vegas to get are water....... | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Cranky - 11/10/2007 10:50 AM
Did you know they have a big ass canal that bypasses the niagra falls. they can regualte the falls with this canal. I think only 25% of the true water passes over the falls dring the day. At night they basically turn it off. water used for hydro and drinking water in the canal. so how much is by passed. How much do all the cities on the lakes suck out? Where are the answers? And they want to put a pipeline in to vegas to get are water.......
Yes, it's called the Welland Canal was completed in the early 1900's and is the reason we have Lamprey EELS and alewives in the Great Lakes. | |
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Good news for our Great Lakes.