Recently I came across a piece of legislation (SB212) sponsored by Sen. Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck, which, if passed, would seriously impact the waters of Michigan, be it in the Great Lakes, inland lakes, streams, rivers, creeks, rivulets and, at the rate we are moving, possibly even puddles.
Of particular interest to me is language in the bill as proposed which would have such a high threshold of damage to fish populations that I fear they might not be able to survive such water diversions or withdrawals.
As a citizen of Michigan my entire life, and as one who has come to revere water, I cannot fathom how any public official could become involved with such legislation. Unfortunately, the only answers that come to mind are politics and money, and in this case I fear that they are co-mingled.
To anyone who has followed the water war with the Nestle company, there are great sums of money involved with the diversion of Michigan water into Nestle bottles. The nature of contemporary politics seems to have little to do with what is right, as much as it has to do with how much one receives in contributions.
An old method of finding seeping septic tanks is to introduce dye into the system and watch, usually along a shoreline, or riverbank, where it comes out and enters into the water supply. If only we could dye Nestle and other special-interest money, say, florescent orange, and then trace where it ends up.
Is it possible that orange money would be found in the coffers of state Sens. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, or Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, or in the campaign funds of all the other Republican senators who are supporting this bill; money leached in from Big Water interests?
It is my hope that our elected representatives, primarily Sens. Allen and McManus, will be wise enough to not be pulled in by the forces which want to market Michigan water, with Michigan tax credits, at zero cost and gargantuan profits.
It is my hope that Sens. Allen, McManus and their colleagues will not support the Birkholz version of the proposed water law, but that they will support the House version. It is the only version which protects Michigan under the Great Lakes Compact.
If my hope is proven wrong by their actions or those of their colleagues, then it will be my goal to help vote those who support the Birkholz bill out of office.
Water is better than money, it's as simple as that, senators. My water, and the water of my fellow Michigan citizens, which we own collectively, grows ever more shallow. Don't make it worse.
About the author: Mike Delp is a writer who lives in Interlochen. He has spent almost his entire life on the water, and is currently the director of the Reeling Waters Coalition to Protect Michigan Water.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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