State Policy Initiatives
Great Lakes Shoreline Management (aka Beach Grooming)
During low water periods, nearshore areas of the Great Lakes that are typically under water are exposed. These exposed bottomlands naturally become vegetated and form coastal wetlands. This natural increase in vegetation growth during low water periods is vital to the overall health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Coastal wetlands provide a range of important functions including critical habitat for fish and wildlife, erosion control, water quality protection, and a myriad of recreational opportunities. Coastal wetland systems support diverse assemblages of invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. In particular, over 90% of the roughly 200 fish species that occur in the Great Lakes are dependent upon coastal wetlands for some part of their life cycle. Shoreline management activities such as mowing, grooming leveling, and removing vegetation have significant impacts upon the health of coastal wetlands and the Great Lakes. To protect the health of our coastal wetlands and Great Lakes, it is best to allow shoreline vegetation to remain untouched. Before engaging in shoreline management activities, recognize the substantial and long-lasting adverse impact these activities may have upon your property and the health of the Great Lakes.
If you do engage in shoreline management activities between the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and the water’s edge on the Great Lakes and their connected waters, including Little Traverse Bay and Crooked and Pickerel Lakes, permits are required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction of underground resources including oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing involves the pressurized injection of a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand in underground formations to allow natural gas and oil to flow more freely from rock pores to the surface. Advancements in technology and new uses have greatly expanded in recent years allowing companies to extract oil and gas resources from unconventional resources that were previously inaccessible. This drilling is deeper and requires substantially more fresh water (millions of gallons rather than 50-100,000 gallons), greater volumes of chemicals, and produces larger quantities of wastewater. The Watershed Council has been and will continue working to strengthen Michigan’s current regulations to keep up with the advancements in oil and gas drilling technology.
During low water periods, nearshore areas of the Great Lakes that are typically under water are exposed. These exposed bottomlands naturally become vegetated and form coastal wetlands. This natural increase in vegetation growth during low water periods is vital to the overall health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Coastal wetlands provide a range of important functions including critical habitat for fish and wildlife, erosion control, water quality protection, and a myriad of recreational opportunities. Coastal wetland systems support diverse assemblages of invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. In particular, over 90% of the roughly 200 fish species that occur in the Great Lakes are dependent upon coastal wetlands for some part of their life cycle. Shoreline management activities such as mowing, grooming leveling, and removing vegetation have significant impacts upon the health of coastal wetlands and the Great Lakes. To protect the health of our coastal wetlands and Great Lakes, it is best to allow shoreline vegetation to remain untouched. Before engaging in shoreline management activities, recognize the substantial and long-lasting adverse impact these activities may have upon your property and the health of the Great Lakes.
If you do engage in shoreline management activities between the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and the water’s edge on the Great Lakes and their connected waters, including Little Traverse Bay and Crooked and Pickerel Lakes, permits are required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction of underground resources including oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing involves the pressurized injection of a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand in underground formations to allow natural gas and oil to flow more freely from rock pores to the surface. Advancements in technology and new uses have greatly expanded in recent years allowing companies to extract oil and gas resources from unconventional resources that were previously inaccessible. This drilling is deeper and requires substantially more fresh water (millions of gallons rather than 50-100,000 gallons), greater volumes of chemicals, and produces larger quantities of wastewater. The Watershed Council has been and will continue working to strengthen Michigan’s current regulations to keep up with the advancements in oil and gas drilling technology.
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Wetland Protection
The Watershed Council is a statewide leader on wetland protection. In 1984, the state was granted the authority to administer Section 404 of the Clean Water Act by the EPA because Michigan had one of the best and most streamlined programs in the country. The state administration of the wetland protection program in Michigan offers several benefits that the federal government simply cannot offer at this time, notably in terms of program efficiency and resource protection. Because of the many benefits, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council continuously works to maintain and strengthen Michigan’s wetlands protection program and there is much to be done. Changes need to be made to ensure Michigan’s program is on par with the federal Clean Water Act. Great Lakes coastal wetlands are threatened by a new state law and every year, bills are introduced into the Michigan legislature that would weaken Michigan’s wetland protection program. |
Pigeon Cove. Photo by Kristy Beyer
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Enbridge Pipeline 5
Line 5 is a 645 mile petroleum pipeline, owned and operated by Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, which runs from Superior, Wisconsin, across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, through Northern Michigan, down to the thumb region, and over to Sarnia, Ontario. The line became operational in 1953 and carries up to 540,000 barrels or 22.7 million gallons of light crude oil, synthetic crude, and natural gas liquids per day. Much of the focus for Line 5 has revolved around the dual pipelines located on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac. However, this represents just a small portion of Line 5, only 4.09 miles out of a total 645 miles. The onshore portions of Line 5 pose just as much, if not a greater, risk to Michigan’s waters. In the Upper Peninsula, Line 5 crosses 16 tributaries within nine miles of Lake Michigan – 11 of those are less than four miles from the lake. That means an oil spill in this area would have a high likelihood of reaching Lake Michigan. In the Northern Lower Peninsula, Line 5 crosses the Indian River, Little Sturgeon River, Pigeon River, and Upper Black River and traverses within a few miles or less from many sparkling inland lakes, including Paradise, Burt, Mullet, and Douglas. While pipelines are considered to be the safest and most efficient way to transport oil and gas commodities, some sites are not appropriate locations. An incident or failure on Line 5 is considered to be a low-probability, high-consequence event. That means it does not have a high likelihood of occurring, but if it does occur, the impact could be catastrophic. As a result, the Watershed Council advocates for the decommissioning of Line 5. Recognizing the economic and political realities surrounding Line 5, we acknowledge that Line 5 will not be decommissioned in the near term. Therefore, we need to prevent an oil spill and enhance preparedness capabilities to be able to effectively respond.
To learn more about the Watershed Council's desired near-term actions for Line 5 and pipeline safety nationwide, visit our "Pipeline" page.
Line 5 is a 645 mile petroleum pipeline, owned and operated by Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, which runs from Superior, Wisconsin, across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, through Northern Michigan, down to the thumb region, and over to Sarnia, Ontario. The line became operational in 1953 and carries up to 540,000 barrels or 22.7 million gallons of light crude oil, synthetic crude, and natural gas liquids per day. Much of the focus for Line 5 has revolved around the dual pipelines located on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac. However, this represents just a small portion of Line 5, only 4.09 miles out of a total 645 miles. The onshore portions of Line 5 pose just as much, if not a greater, risk to Michigan’s waters. In the Upper Peninsula, Line 5 crosses 16 tributaries within nine miles of Lake Michigan – 11 of those are less than four miles from the lake. That means an oil spill in this area would have a high likelihood of reaching Lake Michigan. In the Northern Lower Peninsula, Line 5 crosses the Indian River, Little Sturgeon River, Pigeon River, and Upper Black River and traverses within a few miles or less from many sparkling inland lakes, including Paradise, Burt, Mullet, and Douglas. While pipelines are considered to be the safest and most efficient way to transport oil and gas commodities, some sites are not appropriate locations. An incident or failure on Line 5 is considered to be a low-probability, high-consequence event. That means it does not have a high likelihood of occurring, but if it does occur, the impact could be catastrophic. As a result, the Watershed Council advocates for the decommissioning of Line 5. Recognizing the economic and political realities surrounding Line 5, we acknowledge that Line 5 will not be decommissioned in the near term. Therefore, we need to prevent an oil spill and enhance preparedness capabilities to be able to effectively respond.
To learn more about the Watershed Council's desired near-term actions for Line 5 and pipeline safety nationwide, visit our "Pipeline" page.
Great Lakes Aquaculture
In 2014, the State of Michigan received two proposals to establish privately owned net-pen operations in Lakes Huron and Michigan. Net-pen aquaculture, also known as fish farming, is the practice of raising fish in an underwater net or structure that serves as a pen. There are currently no commercial net-pen aquaculture operations in Michigan’s open waters of the Great Lakes. To determine how to proceed and respond to the proposals, a scientific advisory panel was established by the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources (MDNR), Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The panel evaluated the scientific, environmental, economic, and regulatory considerations regarding potential Great Lakes aquaculture. Based upon the reports from the scientific panel, as well as stakeholder input, the Michigan Quality of Life agencies (MDNR, MDEQ, MDARD) recommended against pursuing commercial net-pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes at this time. The agencies felt that commercial net-pen aquaculture posed significant risks to fishery management and other types of recreation and tourism. The agencies also stated that the State of Michigan lacks both the regulatory authority and funding to implement a net-pen aquaculture program that would protect the Great Lakes.
In 2014, the State of Michigan received two proposals to establish privately owned net-pen operations in Lakes Huron and Michigan. Net-pen aquaculture, also known as fish farming, is the practice of raising fish in an underwater net or structure that serves as a pen. There are currently no commercial net-pen aquaculture operations in Michigan’s open waters of the Great Lakes. To determine how to proceed and respond to the proposals, a scientific advisory panel was established by the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources (MDNR), Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The panel evaluated the scientific, environmental, economic, and regulatory considerations regarding potential Great Lakes aquaculture. Based upon the reports from the scientific panel, as well as stakeholder input, the Michigan Quality of Life agencies (MDNR, MDEQ, MDARD) recommended against pursuing commercial net-pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes at this time. The agencies felt that commercial net-pen aquaculture posed significant risks to fishery management and other types of recreation and tourism. The agencies also stated that the State of Michigan lacks both the regulatory authority and funding to implement a net-pen aquaculture program that would protect the Great Lakes.
Aerial photograph of a freshwater trout farm on Lake Huron. Photo: Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association (NOAA)
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The recommendation by the State agencies can be considered a win for the Great Lakes. However, it is just a recommendation. It is crucial that the State Legislature and Governor Snyder work to pass a ban that will keep these fish farms out of our Great Lakes for good. Several bills currently sit in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate that would allow the practice in the Great Lakes if passed into law. Additional bills that would ban the practice in the Great Lakes also sit in both chambers. We are calling on the Legislature to act on the bills to prohibit net-pen operations in the Great Lakes so that the administration’s policy is clearly and unambiguously incorporated into state law.
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