Department Releases Water Strategy

Liz Gullett

Jun 17, 2016

This week, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of the Great Lakes published Part 1 of the State Water Strategy. The strategy will outline a thirty year plan to protect, manage, and enhance Michigan’s water resources. It focuses on wise use of water to ensure healthy citizens, vibrant communities, sustainable economies, and stewardship of the state’s water heritage. Part 1 is centered on promoting stewardship through improving water literacy and community engagement, and on protecting and preserving the state’s water resources. The remaining components of the strategy will be released over the course of the next few months. “Governor Snyder previously called on the Office of the Great Lakes to develop a comprehensive plan to protect the state’s water. Michigan is home to a massive amount of fresh water, with over 95,000 square miles just in the great lakes. Given that, it’s vital to our state’s economy, health, and environment, to protect them,” stated Tony DesChenes of MLC.

When charging the Office of the Great Lakes with this task, Governor Rick Snyder defined his top five priorities for the strategy:

Ensure safe drinking water for all Michigan residents
Achieve a 40% phosphorous reduction in the Western Lake Erie basin
Prevent the introduction of new invasive species
Support investments in commercial and recreational harbors
Develop and implement Michigan’s water trails system

For additional information, please visit www.michigan.gov/waterstrategy.

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