Blog Posts

Blog posts by FLOW team and guest writers

FLOW Applauds EPA for First-Ever, National Enforceable Drinking Water Standards for PFAs

April 11, 2024

On April 10, the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA issued the first-ever nationally enforceable drinking water standards to protect communities from cancer-causing toxic PFAS pollutants, also known as “forever chemicals.” FLOW applauds this important federal coordinated action designed to tackle PFA contamination, prioritize public health, and advance environmental justice in communities nationwide. Michigan has much at… Read more »

Court upholds permit denial for private boat basin and channel on Long Lake

April 11, 2024

Citizen action and public engagement safeguards Michigan waters Most everyone familiar with the beauty and majesty of Long Lake regard it as an exceptional example of the stunning natural features that are so abundant in Northwest Lower Michigan. The largest lake in Grand Traverse County and the headwaters of the Platte River, Long Lake harbors… Read more »

What happens when we treat water as a commodity?

April 5, 2024

Does water serve public needs and interests, or should it be a commodity available for private investment, ownership, and management? Those who believe water should remain public are deeply troubled by this question. The investment community is increasingly interested in developing markets in water. In the year 2020, the transition from water as a public… Read more »

Stephanie Kimball joins the FLOW team as Operations Manager

April 3, 2024

FLOW is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Kimball as our new Operations Manager. Stephanie brings a wealth of nonprofit administration experience, having served at Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and The Father Fred Foundation. She also had the experience of living near the 2010 Enbridge oil spill in Marshall, near Kalamazoo, and has seen… Read more »

FLOW welcomes Marshall Protetch, Public Engagement Manager

April 3, 2024

FLOW is pleased to announce that Marshall Protetch has joined the team as our new Public Engagement Manager. The Public Engagement Manager is an important part of FLOW’s communications team, working to expand and engage FLOW’s audience, and inspire people to take action on the issues that are critical to the health and protection of… Read more »

AG Nessel’s lawsuit against Allegan County CAFO

March 29, 2024

By Carrie La Seur, FLOW Legal Director It’s getting warm this spring down in Allegan County. In late February 2024, attorneys in the Michigan Attorney General’s office brought an enforcement lawsuit against J&D Brenner Farms, an Allegan County dairy operation and successful scofflaw until this year. EGLE has been trying since 2016 to get Deb… Read more »

Michigan Water Day resolution 2024

March 22, 2024

For the fourth year in a row, FLOW has helped author and worked towards a House of Representatives resolution declaring March 22 as Michigan Water Day, and resolving that water is a human right. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Rachel Hood (D-81) and co-sponsored by Betsy Coffia (D-103) and 22 additional House representatives. Michigan… Read more »

World Water Day: Water Unites Us All

March 22, 2024

The 8 billion people of this planet are almost unfathomably diverse, but have one thing in common. We need water to survive, and we consist of water – 55 to 60% of the adult body is water. Recognizing the universal human need for water, the United Nations has declared the theme of World Water Day,… Read more »

Groundwater Awareness Week: March 10-16, 2024

March 14, 2024

Here’s a riddle: what resource is critical to our public health, environment and economy and invisible to the naked eye? That should be easy. The answer is groundwater. By its nature out of sight, and therefore out of mind, groundwater is an indispensable resource in Michigan and around the world, but frequently wasted and polluted… Read more »