You probably don’t know it, but this first week in June, Michigan is observing Great Lakes and Freshwater Week.
It’s certainly appropriate. Michigan has an astounding array of waters. As Governor Whitmer said in her proclamation, “during this week, we encourage Michiganders to learn more about the unique wonders of our Great Lakes and freshwater resources that are vital to Michigan’s future.”
FLOW likes to stress one Great Lakes and freshwater statistic not mentioned in the Governor’s proclamation: Michigan’s boundaries encompass more than 38,000 square miles of Great Lakes surface water, and the lakebed beneath them.
Why is this important? Obviously, size is one reason. Michigan has more land under those 38,000 square miles of Great Lakes waters than the land some states (like Indiana) have above water – that is, the whole state of Indiana could fit beneath our Great Lakes waters. If you count above-water land alone, Michigan is the 22nd largest state, but add in Michigan’s lakebed and we are the 11th largest state.
The other reason this is important is that these 38,000-plus square miles of water and land beneath it are a public trust – owned by no private party and belonging to all of us who constitute the public. FLOW’s central organizing principle is the public trust doctrine, which stresses the duty of the government to protect that endowment as a trustee on behalf of the people of Michigan.
Another water frontier of which many are unaware is our abundant groundwater. Water found in soil and rock formations supplies 45% of Michigan residents with drinking water. But that resource has been under threat for decades, with an estimated 24,000 contaminated groundwater sites. FLOW has devoted extensive effort to raise awareness of groundwater’s importance and the need for improved policy to safeguard it for future generations.
Freshwater facts:
The Great Lakes that surround us contain approximately 20 percent of the world’s available surface fresh water.
Lake Superior alone has approximately 10 percent of the world’s available surface fresh water.
Lake Superior alone has approximately 10 percent of the world’s available surface fresh water.
Michigan has more than 36,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Michigan has 6.5 million acres of wetlands.
Michigan has 1,233 public beaches.
The beauty and environmental impact of the lakes are critical for life in Michigan. Line 5 and the proposed tunnel under the Straits of Mackinaw needs to be shut down. There are many threats to the Lakes that surround Michigan and the State needs to do everything in its power to preserve them.