Blog Posts

Blog posts by FLOW team and guest writers

Why the Trump Administration’s Attack on the National Environmental Policy Act Matters

January 15, 2020

On the first day of 1970—a hallmark year for the environmental movement—President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act into law. A milestone in the protection of America’s environment, NEPA has been nicknamed the “Magna Carta” of American environmental law. On its 50th anniversary, it’s important to remember why NEPA has been so important—especially now that the Trump Administration is proposing to weaken it via regulation.

Safeguarding and Reclaiming the Public Water Commons and a Human Right to Water and Health

January 15, 2020

Maude’s new book, “Whose Water Is It Anyway?: Taking Water Protection into Public Hands” is a combination of big picture world water crisis, personal story, water policy, conflicts, and solution. Here is a short readable book, a book you can slip into your purse, backpack, or even suit coat pocket, to take with you into the city hall, the boardroom, the classroom, or statehouse. It’s a story that should be read by everyone who cares about liberty, dignity, harmony, and the common good of people and planet.

Michigan DNR Takes Steps to Hold Enbridge Accountable

January 13, 2020

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Daniel Eichinger today set a 30-day deadline for Enbridge to submit key information regarding its ongoing violations of the state-granted easement conditionally allowing the Canadian company’s 66-year-old Line 5 oil pipelines to occupy the Straits of Mackinac.

When State Government Favored Environmental Regulations Over “Fries with that Permit”

January 9, 2020

Seth Phillips started working as a state regulator in the late 1970s, at a time when there was a strong growth in environmental consciousness in society, and a serious commitment in government to environmental improvement. William Milliken was Michigan’s Governor when Phillips started, and he and the legislature were national leaders in addressing the many challenges our environment faced.

The Case of the Green Ooze

January 8, 2020

It’s disappointing that it took creeping green ooze to awaken state officials in Lansing to a monumental environmental problem — thousands of dirty groundwater contamination sites across the state. But that’s exactly what has happened.

FLOW in Focus: Doing the Next Right Thing For the Love of Water

January 3, 2020

As FLOW’s Executive Director, Liz demonstrates the rightness of Jim’s decision every day. She is a courageous advocate for public water and the public trust, a champion of water justice and water literacy, and a valued counselor to many other professionals and organizations. Liz has earned every accolade and deserves every expression of respect and admiration that comes her way. 

Live, Work, Create, Renew, Repeat.

January 3, 2020

Above: Liz Kirkwood, who has been standing guard over the Great Lakes since 2012 as FLOW’s executive director, will be on sabbatical with her family from January through March 2020. By Liz Kirkwood, FLOW Executive Director sab·bat·i·cal /səˈbadək(ə)l/  noun: a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel,… Read more »

A Truly Golden Anniversary: 50 Years Since the Environmental Awakening of 1970

January 1, 2020

Although American environmentalism reaches back to the early 20th century, public demands for clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems reached a crescendo in 1970. As 2020 dawns, FLOW believes it’s time to remember and reflect on all that happened that 50 years ago—and how we can make the next 50 years a time of further dramatic progress for our precious waters and the environment.

Bottled water

Court’s Denial of Zoning Permit for Nestlé Pump Station Exposes Achilles Heel of Private Bottled Water Industry

December 31, 2019

On December 3, the Michigan Court of Appeals released an opinion nullifying a lower court order that had allowed Nestlé to build an industrial booster pump facility to transport 210 million gallons per year of groundwater that feeds headwater creeks in Osceola Township just north of Evart. The decision exposes the Achilles heel of private bottled water industry’s water withdrawals, diversions, and sales throughout Michigan and the country.