Your Opinions

Posted: July 25, 2006

WATER

Great Lakes diversion requires public review

This letter is written on behalf of leaders in nine conservation and community organizations in Wisconsin who believe the July 20 editorial "Ratify the water pact" was on the mark in urging that the pending Great Lakes compact be adopted by legislatures in Wisconsin and the other Great Lakes states and then ratified by Congress.

However, the editorial's criticism of Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm - for blocking an application for a diversion of water from Lake Michigan for the western portion of New Berlin - was without merit. Granholm's action underscores the very reason that the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces took four years to produce the pending agreement: Diversion matters are serious because they have long-term economic, environmental and legal consequences.

For matters of such great public importance, there needs to be a public review process - with clear standards.

This is the point Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has also made. We would note that Milwaukee agreed to sell water to New Berlin for that part of the city within the Great Lakes basin after such public review.

The Great Lakes compact is a floor, not a ceiling. There is room for much-needed improvement and clarification to ensure that Wisconsin's valuable and vulnerable water resources are protected and used wisely. That should be the goal for Wisconsin's Legislature: strong law that guarantees protections.

Lynn E. Broaddus
Executive director, Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers
Milwaukee
with River Alliance of Wisconsin, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, Clean Wisconsin, 16th St. Community Health Center, Milwaukee County Conservation Coalition, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Midwest Environmental Advocates

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Milwaukee should be smart about water sale

Does the City of Milwaukee actually believe selling water to Waukesha for a paltry $1.7 million is in its interest? And how does this fit with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's green strategy for sustainability? ("Selling water to Waukesha could be liquid gold mine," July 22)

Not only is $1.7 million annually a ridiculously low amount; it encourages irresponsible growth and wasteful water usage. At the very least, Milwaukee should demand some payments in kind, such as a 21st-century transportation system that actually moves people, not just cars, and is financially supported by the suburbs.

Wisconsinites should be thankful that the other Great Lakes states and Canada have veto power over these water diversion deals. I guess they don't call us "cheeseheads" for nothing!

Steve Brachman
Milwaukee