Kirk: Lake Michigan Water Level Nears All-Time Low

Press Release

U.S. Representative Mark Kirk joined with environmental leaders today to call for the ratification of an interstate and international compact to prevent further declines in Great Lakes water levels. Congressman Kirk was joined by Joel Brammeier, Associate Director for Policy at the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Col. Jack Drolet of the Army Corps of Engineers.

"According to the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Michigan is now two feet below its long-term average and only four inches from its record low," Congressman Kirk said. "While the water supply for 30 million people continues to shrink, we are seeing developments that threaten the Great Lakes. In the past 10 years, vendors tried to sell our water to Asia while western states looked to tap the Great Lakes to meet demands. We run the risk that without safeguards, the drop in lake levels could continue."

The Great Lakes are 3.5 feet below their long-term average. A 2008 Army Corps of Engineers report indicates that Lake Michigan is 10 inches below its January 2007 level. Increasing air and water temperatures are reducing the ice cover of the lakes, resulting in faster evaporation during winter. Forecasts predict above average temperatures through 2008 due to the La Niña effect. Researchers estimate that the lakes could drop up to eight feet this century, creating issues concerning economic growth and access to fresh water.

In 1998, the Canadian Nova Group tried to ship Lake Superior water in bulk to Asia. Last October, then presidential candidate Bill Richardson suggested that western states use Great Lakes water to meet unmet water demand.

The Aral Sea at the borders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan demonstrates how seemingly limitless supplies of water can vanish quickly. In 50 years, what once was the world's fourth largest inland sea lost 75 percent of its water due to irresponsible irrigation and regional growth.

"To protect the Great Lakes, we need to ratify the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact," Congressman Kirk said. "The Compact implements a host of water conservation and transparency measures that will limit water diversions and encourage responsible, sustainable water use. Only two states have ratified the measure so far - Illinois and Minnesota. Before it becomes law, all Great Lakes states must ratify the Compact. A state-by-state approach will not solve our problem. We need a comprehensive, regional solution to prevent the selling off of our most important natural resource."

Provisions of the Compact include:

-Requirements that any entity withdrawing more than 100,000 gallons of water per day to register with the state and annually report on withdrawal, diversion or consumptive use volumes;
-The development of water conservation and efficiency programs within two years;
-A prohibition on all new or increased diversions except:
If the water withdrawn is solely for public water supply purposes, and
If the water is completely returned to the watershed
-A review process for extremely large diversions or withdrawals;
-State regulations to ensure net impact does not adversely affect the ecosystem;
-Withdrawals of water (with a federal minimum of 100,000 gallons per day) must be returned, or treated then returned, to the lakes.

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