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Special Report
Water Management In Michigan & Great Lakes
(Including Nestle/Ice Mountain v. Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation)

User Note:
This Special Report is being replaced by our new
Great Lakes Environment Blog
(click here)
This Special Report will remain posted for archive purposes.

Note: Special Reports are updated periodically here; but are updated and reported on
daily in our WIMS Email services.

Partially Updated: November 14, 2007

Click Here for details on WIMS Information Service Products

Special Report

Key Links

Annex 2001 Implemention Agreements & Federal Diversion Law

Access Great Lakes -- St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body (Regional Body) (click here).

USGS National Water Availability & Use Program - Great Lakes Basin Pilot (click here).

USGS Report: Lake-Level Variability and Water Availability in the Great Lakes, (6/20/07) (click here).

USGS Report: Historical Changes In Precipitation And Streamflow In The U.S. Great Lakes Basin, 1915-2004 (10/29/07) (click here).

Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Federal) (click here).

Final Annex 2001 Implementing Agreements (12/13/05) Access a release and link to the final documents, a press release, basin map and a FAQ document (click here).

Council of Great Lakes Governors Annex 2001 Implementing Agreements website (click here).

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Regional Body (click here).

Access the Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database on withdrawals, diversions, and consumptive use of Great Lakes water (click here).

Environmental Groups Annex 2001 Resources on first draft (click here).

Great Lakes Water Diversion Proposals

7/13/07: Wisconsin Intends To Approve New Berlin Diversion (click here).
5/18/07: 2-volume, revised New Berlin application (click here).
10/31/06: Attorney General Cox release on blocking New Berlin (click here).
9/26/06: New Berlin public notice and 60-day comment (click here).
9/26/06: Complete New Berlin, WI diversion 60-page application (click here).
6/13/06: Complete 6/13/06 New Berlin, WI diversion 72-page application (click here).
6/28/06: Governor Granholm New Berlin rejection release (click here).
6/28/06: Governor Granholm New Berlin notice to legislature (click here).
5/20/05: Dave's Blog Great Lakes Water Diversions & Exports: A Michigan Timeline - 1985-2005 (click here).
42USC1962d-20. WRDA Prohibition on Great Lakes Diversions (click here).

Non-Government Organizations & Groups

Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) website (click here).
The United Indigenous Nations of the Great Lakes (UINGL) (click here).
Michigan Land Use Institute's Great Lakes Water Security website (click here).

BottledWaterWeb - Bottled Water industry news and statistics (click here).

Access the Great Lakes Forever (Wisconsin-based Biodiversity Project and partners) website for Annex 2001 issues and more (click here).

Great Lakes, Great Michigan Coalition (click here).

Great Lakes United (click here)

Council of Great Lakes Industries (CGLI) (click here).

Dave's Blog (maintained by author Dave Dempsey and former MEC Policy Advisor and now with Clean Water Action in Minnesota) (click here).

Great Lakes Town Hall (click here).

Michigan Water Laws & Programs

Governor Signs Comprehensive Water Management Bills - Feb 28, 2006: Bills in the legislative package included: SB0850, SB0851, SB0852, SB0854, SB0857. Access a release from the Governor (click here). Click on the bill numbers above for legislative details.
Access the proposed Water Legacy Act (HB 5634 of 2004, SB 1087 of 2004, SB 0007 of 2005, HB 4151 of 2005).
Michigan's Proposed Water Legacy Act (click here).
Access the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council report on dispute resolution (6/20/05) (click here)
Access Governor Granholm's Executive Directive No. 2005-5, dated May 26, 2005 (click here).
Access the Groundwater Mapping Project website for information, maps and database re: groundwater resources (click here).
MDEQ Water Use, Levels, & Diversion website (click here).

Access Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) January 26, 2004, 5-Point Water Stewardship Plan (click here).

Access Governor Granholm's January 20, 2004, Special Message to the Michigan Legislature on her comprehensive Water Initiative (click here).

Access the Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council Website (click here).

Nestle/Ice Mountain

Access MCWC and Nestle/Ice Mountain distributed press releases (click here).
Access the State Appeals Court Amicus Brief (5/19/05) (click here).
MDEQ's April 8, 2005 letter re: Evart/Ice Mountain project (click here).
Access the MDEQ memo on Appeals Court intervention (click here).
Access the State Appeals Court Amicus Brief (12/16/03) (click here).
Access the Appeals Court Stay Order (click here).
Access a MI State Chamber of Commerce release (click here).
Access the Judge's 2/13/04, 42-page opinion (click here).
Access the Judge's original 11/25/03 opinion & case attorneys (click here).
Access the Nestle/Ice Mountain website for the case (click here).
Attorney General Granholm's September 2001 letters re: Nestle/Ice Mountain Mecosta project (click here).

Some Articles From WIMS Daily

Note: Article titles and links are from WIMS daily reporting service. For complete daily updates see information on subscribing to WIMS Email Services (click here). Some links below may become inactive over time.

House & Senate Committees To Consider Great Lakes Water Bills - Nov 1, 2007: HB 4343 (Ebli) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence river basin water resources compact; ratify. HB 5065 (McDowell) water withdrawals and water diversions; regulate. HB 5066 (Meadows) water withdrawals; modify certain registration and reporting requirements and require conservation measures. HB 5067 (Brown) water withdrawals; enhance enforcement. HB 5068 (Coulouris) water withdrawal; regulate. HB 5069 (Warren) water withdrawals; provide for a water withdrawal assessment tool. HB 5070 (Sak) water withdrawals; modify authority for water users committees and local ordinances. HB 5071 (Corriveau) water withdrawals; require evaluation of certain proposed waterworks systems. HB 5072 (Valentine) water withdrawals; regulate bottled water facilities. HB 5073 (Kathleen Law) water withdrawals; provide department of environmental quality with rule-making authority.
SB 212 (Birkholz) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence river basin water resources compact; ratify. SB 858 (Van Woerkom) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence river basin water resources compact; amend safe drinking water act to implement. SB 859 (Patterson) water withdrawal violations; provide penalties and remedies. SB 860 (Birkholz) water withdrawal assessment tool; implement.

Groups Urge Senators To Consider Alternate Great Lakes Bills - Nov 1, 2007: The environmental groups are supporting the other Senate bills (Senate Bills 721-729) and identical House bills (HB 5065-5073). Access the Great Lakes, Great Michigan website for additional information (click here).

MI Chamber Endorses Great Lakes Compact Legislation - Nov 1, 2007: Access the complete memo which outlines the Key Issues and Concerns (click here). Access the MMA website for additional information (click here).

MI House-Senate Meeting On Great Lakes Water Resources Compact - Oct 18, 2007: The meeting is scheduled for October 24, 2007. Access the meeting announcement (click here). Access legislative details for HB 4343 (click here); HB 4336 (click here); and SB 0212 (click here). Access the CGLG website for a complete status of Compact ratification activity within the various states (click here).

MCWC Files Rehearing Motion Of Supreme Court MEPA Ruling - Aug 15, 2007: Access a posted release from MCWC (click here). Access the complete Supreme Court opinion and dissent (click here). Access the Supreme Court docket number 254202 in the case (click here). Access the Blue Planet Prize on Professor Sax and link to his complete profile (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on Water Management In Michigan & the Great Lakes for extensive background and links (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on Michigan Supreme Court Environmental Decision for additional information (click here).

MI Supreme Court Narrows MEPA Application - Jul 25, 2007: Access the complete opinion and dissent (click here). Access the Supreme Court docket number 254202 in the case (click here). Access the complete release from MCWC (click here). Access a posted release from Clean Water Action Michigan (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on Michigan Supreme Court Environmental Decision for additional information (click here).

MI Supreme Court Decides 4-3 To Narrow MEPA Rights - Jul 25, 2007: Access the complete opinion and dissent (click here). Access the Supreme Court docket number 254202 in the case (click here). Access the Detroit News article (click here). Access the Joan Wolfe Op-Ed (click here). Access the 2004 National Wildlife decision (click here).

House Dems Re-announce "Great Waters, Great Michigan" Bills - Jul 24, 2007: Access a release from House Democrats (click here). Access a posted release from Michigan environmental organizations (click here). Access a listing of newly introduced bills where the bill numbers should be posted soon (click here).

Wisconsin Intends To Approve New Berlin Diversion - Jul 13, 2007: Access the Great Lakes Blogger post including the letters (click here). Access the 2-volume, revised New Berlin application posted on the WDNR website (click here).

Dems Introduce "Great Waters, Great Michigan" Plan Legislation - Jul 2, 2007: Access a lengthy Democratic release (click here). Access a posted release from environmental organizations (click here). Access the LCA website for additional information (click here). Access links to various media reports on the legislation (click here).

Great Lakes Regional Body Establishes Website - Jun 27, 2007: Access the Great Lakes Regional Body website (click here).

Ontario Legislation To Implement Great Lakes Agreement - Apr 3, 2007: Access a release from the Ontario government (click here). Access a summary of the legislation (click here). Access a backgrounder on Establishing a Water Conservation Charge (click here). Access links to Bill 198 - Safeguarding and Sustaining Ontario's Water Act, 2007 and extensive background information (click here). Access links to the Water Conservation Charges Proposal and backgrond information (click here).

Citizen Group Questions Nestle Decision - Feb 5, 2007: Access a release from MCWC posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here).

MDEQ Says No "Adverse Resource Impact" To Nestle Proposal - Feb 2, 2007: Access a release from MDEQ (click here). Access the MDEQ approval letter (click here). Access the 16-page MDEQ Determination (click here). Access a posted release from the environmental groups (click here).

Groups Say Water Laws Must Be Changed - Jan 26, 2007: Access a posted release from the environmental groups (click here).

MDEQ Determines No Adverse Resource Impact For Nestle Withdrawal - Dec 18, 2006. Access an MDEQ release (click here). Access links to the Nestle documents (click here). Access an overview and links to Michigan's new water withdrawal law (click here).

Groups Oppose New Berlin, WI Diversion Proposal - Nov 28, 2006: Access a release (click here). Access the letter to WDNR (click here).

AG Cox Says New Berlin, WI Diversion Proposal Is Blocked - Oct 31, 2006: Access a release from the AG (click here). Access the letter sent by the AG (click here). Access the 42USC1962d-20. Prohibition on Great Lakes Diversions in the WRDA (click here). See Great Lakes Water Diversion Proposals above for links the New Berlin proposal documents (click here).

Supreme Court Issues Order In Nestle Waters Case - Oct 20, 2006: Access the October 20, 2006, Order (click here). Access the Supreme Court docket in the case (click here).

MCWC Submits FOIA To Disclose Nestle's Plans - Oct 18, 2006: Access the MCWC release posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here).

New Berlin, WI Public Notice On Great Lakes Water Diversion - Sep 26, 2006: Access the announcement posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website including instructions for submitting comments (click here). A copy of the application posted on the WDNR website (click here, 6.5MB, 60-pages). Access the New Berlin application submitted to Michgian on June 13, 2006, posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here, 72-pages). Access a 6/28/06 from Governor Granholm (click here). Access the forwarding letter to the MI legislative committees from Michigan's Office of Great Lakes Director Ken DeBeaussaert (click here). Access a release from Michigan groups (click here). Access the 42USC1962d-20. Prohibition on Great Lakes Diversions (click here).

Update: Governor's Reaction To New Berlin Water Diverson Proposal - Jul 5, 2006: [Note: The following article contains updated information based on the DeBeaussaert letter which is now posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website along with an updated, complete version of the New Berlin application.] Access a release from Governor Granholm (click here). Access the forwarding letter to legislative committees from OGL Director Ken DeBeaussaert (click here). Access the 42USC1962d-20. Prohibition on Great Lakes Diversions (click here). Access the complete New Berlin application posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here).

Governor Granholm Recommends Rejection Of New Berlin, WI Diversion Application - Jun 28, 2006: Access a release from Governor Granholm (click here). Access the complete New Berlin application posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here).

Appointments & Update Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council - May 11, 2006: Access a release on the appointments (click here). Access the April 19 Council meeting minutes (click here). Access the MDEQ Council website for links to the final report and extensive information (click here).

New Great Lakes Water Resources Regional Body To Meet - May 10, 2006: Access the draft agenda (click here). Access further information on the Agreement and the Regional Body (click here).

Nestlé Waters Submits Documents To Supreme Court - Apr 27, 2006: Access links to the latest news release from both Nestle and MCWC posted on the WIMS-EcoBizPort website (click here).

House Dems Push To Prohibit Great Lakes Diversions - Apr 17, 2006: The bills include HB 5995 of 2006 to prohibit diversion of Great Lakes waters; HB 5996 of 2006 that would increase civil fines for certain water diversions; and HJR W of 2006 a constitutional amendment to prohibit the diversion of water from the Great Lakes that would amends the State constitution by adding sec. 55 to art IV.Access the release (click here).

Nestle Is Reviewing Legal Options - Mar 31, 2006: Access the Nestle release (click here). Access links to previous Nestle and MCWC news releases posted on the EcoBizPort.com website (click here).

MCWC Asks Supreme Court To Hear Nestle Case - Mar 29, 2006: Access the complete release from MCWC (click here).

Groups Want Water Protections On Fall Ballot - Mar 15, 2006: Access a posted release (click here). Access a release from Nestle (click here).

Rescission Of Executive Directive 2005-5 - Mar 13, 2006: Access Executive Directive 2006-1, the rescission of Executive Directive 2005-5 (click here). Access a release from Nestle (click here).

Governor Signs Comprehensive Water Management Bills - Feb 28, 2006: Bills in the legislative package included: SB0850, SB0851, SB0852, SB0854, SB0857. Access a release from the Governor (click here). Click on the bill numbers above for legislative details.

PIRGIM Says Water Bills Will Stop Overuse & Abuse - Feb 13, 2006: Access a release and link to additional information (click here). Access a summary of the bills on the Michigan Environmental Council website (click here). Click on the bill numbers above for legislative details. Access a House Summary Analysis of the water bills as they passed the Senate (click here).

Water Bills Ordered Enrolled; Governor Praises - Feb 9, 2006: The water management bills include: SB0850, SB0851, SB0852, SB0854, SB0857. Access a House Republican release (click here). Access a Senate Republican release (click here). Access the CWA website (click here). Access the MEC/DAS release (click here). Access the Great Lakes Town Hall Forum website (click here).Access a release from MUCC (click here). Access the Governor's statement (click here). Click on the bill numbers above for legislative details. Access a House Summary Analysis of the water bills as they passed the Senate (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on Water Management In Michigan & the Great Lakes for extensive background and links (click here). Access links to the latest media coverage (click here).

Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council Final Report - Feb 6, 2006: Access the complete 58-page report (click here). Access the GWCAC website for complete background and information (click here).

New House Hearings Scheduled On Water Bills - Feb 2: Access a H