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Sept. 23, 2008
Great Lakes Compact Sails
Through Congress
Focus Now Shifts to
Restoring the Midwest’s Most Valuable Natural Resource
Less than five months after Wisconsin passed the Great Lakes
Compact, the U.S. Congress today officially ratified the
measure, a historic agreement between eight states and two
Canadian provinces to not divert water outside of the Great
Lakes region.
" Wisconsin and the other Great Lakes states should be proud
of this carefully constructed compromise," said Melissa
Malott , water program director at Clean Wisconsin, the
state's largest environmental advocacy organization. “This
Compact will help protect the Great Lakes as well as the
recreation and industry they bring.”
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Compact today
with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 390-25. President
Bush pledged his support for the Compact in a statement
issued in July, and is expected to sign the Compact in the
near future.
"Now that the water is here to stay, we must shift our
attention to restoring the quality of water in the lakes,"
Malott said. “Toxic runoff, invasive species and algae
blooms in the Great Lakes all exact an enormous
environmental and economic toll on our region.”
A recent study found that the impact of invasive species
alone costs the Great Lakes Region over $200 million
annually. Non-native mussels attach themselves to boats and
clog industrial infrastructure, while algae blooms create
foul smells that decrease tourism and diminish property
values.
“The importance of the Great Lakes to our economy and our
culture cannot be understated,” Malott said. "We hope that
the next president understands the importance of the Great
Lakes to our region and makes restoration a top priority.”
Sept. 15, 2008
National Geographic recognizes
Milwaukee Urban Water Trail
National Geographic Magazine
named Milwaukee one of the nation's 50 best adventure towns,
in part because of the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail, a
project initiated by Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers.
The new 35-mile Urban Water
Trail leads paddlers through the city’s three rivers, while
singletrack, kiteboarding launchpads, dive sites, and surf
breaks (seriously) are minutes from Miller Park.
Learn more about the
Milwaukee Urban Water Trail
National Geographic Article
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