Michigan presented its new policy to improve state water resources. The 30-year plan will provide citizens of safe drinking water.
On Friday, Governor Rick Snyder and Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes launched The Michigan Water Plan, which will tackle the state’s water problems in a 30-year period. The first phase has been labeled as an “educational phase”, during which, citizens will be educated about the importance of developing and preserving healthy waters for both: humans and aquatic ecosystem.
Governor Snyder said that state officials have designed a long-term success plan, in which residents and state authorities will work together encouraged by the common love for the Great Lakes and the state’s water resources.
Michigan’s water plan will include five main objectives: guaranteeing safe drinking water, fighting invasive species, reducing by 40 percent the level of phosphorus in western Lake Erie (the main cause for the proliferation of algae blooms), developing Michigan’s water trails system and investing in recreational harbor’s projects.
The results of the 30-year plan will be measured considering conditions of aquatic ecosystems and the untreated sewage.
According to Jon Allan, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 3.5 million of citizens benefit from Lake St Clair, the St Clair River, or Detroit River. This is why governmental authorities have designed the strategy. As they have stated, what is at stake is Michigan public health and actions must be carried out.
Great news for Michigan’s environmentalists
The Michigan Water Plan has brought happiness for state’s environmentalists. The policy to clean up Michigan’s waters will guarantee clean drinking water and aquatic ecosystems will be preserved. Michigan Environmental Council, Chris Kolb, expressed: “We are pleased to see the official launch of this important strategy for Michigan’s water future, and we look forward to seeing the rest of the plan and working with state leaders to put it into action”.
Kolb added that given that summer is around the corner and citizens gather in Michigan’s lakes, the water plan launched by state leaders will bring significant changes in preserving water resources and the Great Lakes heritage.
Source: Michigan Government