Fwd: E-M:/ New Report: Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in State, Federal Policy
TJ Patrick
had a chance to look at the report... which supports retaining
Michigan's wetland program.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan Lubetkin <Lube...@nwf.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Subject: E-M:/ New Report: Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in
State, Federal Policy
To: Enviro-Mich <envir...@great-lakes.net>
National Wildlife Federation
New Report: Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in State, Federal Policy
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—As efforts to restore the Great Lakes gain momentum
in the White House and U.S. Congress, a new report by the National
Wildlife Federation illustrates how gaps in state and federal policy
threaten Great Lakes wetlands.
“Great Lakes wetlands remain threatened,” said Marc Smith, state
policy manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes
Regional Center. “States play a vital role in protecting our wetlands,
water quality and economy—and this report illustrates that they can be
doing more. Successful restoration of our Great Lakes depends on the
protection and restoration of the region’s wetlands.”
The report examines state wetland policies in Michigan, Ohio,
Wisconsin and Minnesota. It assesses how well each state is protecting
wetlands, identifies the barriers to better protection, and offers
recommendations for improvement.
“This report underscores that states are doing many things well in the
effort to protect Great Lakes wetlands,” said Michael Murray, staff
scientist for the National Wildlife Federation’s Regional Center.
“However, states can do better to protect Great Lakes wetlands so that
we protect our environment and economy, before the problems get worse
and the solutions more costly.”
State efforts to protect and restore wetlands, according to the
report, are hampered by incomplete wetland inventories, inadequate
staffing, insufficient public engagement, and a lack of priorities to
protect and restore wetlands.
Gaps in state law also undermine protection efforts. Exemptions which
allow for the destruction of wetlands are generally not tracked by
state agencies. Further, the quality of wetland mitigation projects is
not often tracked, allowing for the destruction of high-quality
wetlands that are replaced with wetlands of less value to people and
wildlife.
“Protecting and Restoring the Kidneys of the Great Lakes: An
Assessment of Wetland Programs in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and
Wisconsin” also recommends how Great Lakes wetlands can be better
protected. Among the recommendations:
• Establish state priorities for restoring wetlands;
• Improve inventories of wetlands in states to gauge progress or
challenges; and,
• Restore Clean Water Act protections to isolated wetlands and other
U.S. waters left unprotected by recent Supreme Court decisions.
Wetlands provide essential services for people and wildlife. Wetlands
filter pollution out of water, control flooding, prevent erosion and
provide a home for waterfowl, fish and wildlife that is the foundation
of the region’s recreational economy. One acre of wetlands provides
$10,573 of ecosystem services, according to recent estimates.
However, Great Lakes wetlands are threatened by development. The
region has lost more than 50 percent of its historic wetlands. Some
coastal areas have lost more than 95 percent of wetlands.
Our partners had this to say about the report released today:
MICHIGAN:
“Thirty years ago, members of Michigan’s legislature enacted the
state’s Wetland Protection Act, which made Michigan a national leader
in wetland protection and management,” said Jennifer McKay, policy
specialist for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. “However, statutory
exemptions, budget cuts, lack of political will, and lack of
enforcement have hindered Michigan’s ability to fully protect the
integrity of our wetland ecosystems. We have an opportunity in
Michigan to build upon the legacy begun 30 years ago and provide
adequate protections essential to the health of the Great Lakes. By
protecting Michigan’s wetlands, we protect the essence of Michigan.”
MINNESOTA:
“We take pride in Minnesota's wetland laws, which for more than 15
years have helped reduce wetland losses,” said Henry VanOffelen,
natural resources scientist with Minnesota Center for Environmental
Advocacy. “But, as outlined in the report, even stronger wetland
protection laws with better accounting and enforcement are needed to
meet the challenges wetlands will face over the next 30 years. Given
expected population growth in the region, protecting wetlands will
also be more important than ever to ensure good water quality and the
integrity of many habitats that fish and wildlife communities depend
on.”
OHIO:
“Ohio has lost over 90% of its wetlands,” said David Celebrezze,
director of air and water special projects for Ohio Environmental
Council. “Strong protections are needed to ensure we keep those free
benefits they provide society such as slowing flood water, filtering
pollutants, and providing green space for recreation, education,
hunting, and fishing. However, the recent state budget proposal has us
backsliding, as it would cut Ohio EPA staff that investigate public
complaints and enforce our wetlands rules.”
WISCONSIN:
“While Wisconsin overall has a strong wetlands protection program,
there clearly needs to be improvements in wetland protection
compliance and enforcement, improvement in public involvement in
decision-making, the completion and updating of Wisconsin's wetland
inventory and the increase of staff to implement the program,” said
George Meyer, executive director for the Wisconsin Wildlife
Federation.
National Wildlife Federation is America’s conservation organization
inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
Read the report, executive summary: http://www.nwf.org/greatlakes
For Immediate Release:
July 7, 2009
Contact:
Marc Smith, National Wildlife Federation, 734-887-7116
Michael Murray, National Wildlife Federation,
David Celebrezze, Ohio Environmental Council, 614-487-7506 Ext. 115
Jennifer McKay, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, 231-347-1181 Ext. 114
George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, 608-516-5545
Henry VanOffelen, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, 218-849-5270
Jordan Lubetkin, National Wildlife Federation, 734-887-7109
Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes Office
213 West Liberty, Suite 200 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-887-7109 | Fax: 734-887-7199 | Cell: 734-904-1589
NWF's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our
children's future. www.nwf.org/news/
Working to restore the Great Lakes by offering solutions to sewage
contamination, invasive species and other threats.
www.healthylakes.org
spotted salamander
expressing support for the Wetlands Program.