News

Lake Michigan Water To Stay Put

The Great Lakes achieved a significant victory in October when President Bush signed the Great Lakes Compact into law. Designed to prevent the diversion of water from the Great Lakes to thirstier parts of the world, the Compact prevents remote states or countries from tapping into the lakes, their streams, or the groundwater of their drainage basins.

The measure capped years of work by many organizations and citizens, as each of the eight states and two Canadian provinces bordering the lakes first had to approve the measure.

“The passage of the Compact is a victory for the present generation and, even more important, for the generations of tomorrow,” said Ted Beattie, president and CEO of Shedd Aquarium. “It will be extraordinarily gratifying to witness the ripple effect this historic water management agreement will have on tomorrow’s leaders.”

Great Lakes governors began considering new water protections a decade ago, after a proposal to ship lake water to Asia in tankers caused a public outcry.

— Elizabeth Latenser