Lake Freighter ducking into Suttons Bay by jsorbieus
The AP's John Flesher takes a look at a five-year blueprint for rescuing the Great Lakes announced by the Obama Administration on Sunday:
The plan envisions spending more than $2.2 billion for long-awaited repairs after a century of damage to the lakes, which hold 20 percent of the world's fresh water...
"We're committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation," Jackson said in a statement.
Among the goals is a "zero tolerance policy" toward future invasions by foreign species, including the Asian carp, a huge, ravenous fish that has overrun portions of the Mississippi River system and is threatening to enter Lake Michigan.
Others include cleanup of the region's most heavily polluted sites, restoring wetlands and other crucial habitat, and improving water quality in shallow areas, where runoff from cities and farms has led to unsightly algae blooms and beach closings.
Read the rest of the story in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and get the details on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan from the EPA. You might also enjoy the Great Lakes slideshow from the photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool. For an idea of the challenges the Great Lakes are facing, I urge you to seek out the amazing film Waterlife by Kevin McMahon. Here's the trailer:
Post a Comment