Snyder Administration Knowingly Violates State Law, Constitution in Race to Seal ‘Line 5’ Oil Tunnel Deals || December 17, 2018
In a rush to give away public land, water, and taxpayer resources to the private Canadian pipeline company Enbridge before departing office in 13 days, Gov. Rick Snyder and his administration are knowingly taking steps that trample Michigan law and openly violate the state constitution, while locking in at least...Read more »
Gridlock on the Great Lakes: ‘Line 5’ Oil Spill Threatens a $45 Billion Blow to Shipping, Steel Production, and Jobs || November 20, 2018
A Line 5 oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac could trigger a domino effect of damage disrupting Great Lakes commercial shipping and steel production, slashing jobs, and shrinking the nation’s Gross Domestic Product by $45 billion after just 15 days, according to a report....Read more »
FLOW’s Legal Analysis: Snyder-Enbridge Oil Tunnel Deal Risks the Mackinac Bridge’s Fiscal Integrity, Violates Environmental Laws || November 1, 2018
The use of the legal powers of the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) to facilitate an oil tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, as proposed by outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder in a secretly negotiated deal with Enbridge Energy Partners, violates environmental provisions of Michigan’s Constitution....Read more »
Gov. Snyder’s “Line 5” Oil Tunnel Increases Risk of Great Lakes Oil Spill || October 3, 2018
Make no mistake, Gov. Rick Snyder’s oil tunnel proposal announced today increases the likelihood of an oil spill disaster in the Straits of Mackinac, the very heart of the Great Lakes. The Governor’s proposed tunnel, to be completed in 7 to 10 years, means Enbridge will continue to pump 23...Read more »
Michigan Groundwater Emergency || September 25, 2018
Michigan’s groundwater resources are in deteriorating condition, and changes in state policy are urgently needed to restore it, FLOW said in a report released today. The report by FLOW, the Great Lakes law and policy center, says Michigan law and policy have adopted an “out of sight, out of mind”... Read more »
Public Water, Public Justice || September 19, 2018
Drawing upon decades of experience and after a year of research, conversation, and analysis in collaboration with many people and organizations, FLOW today released “Public Water, Public Justice,” model legislation designed to protect Michigan’s public waters, and the rights of the people who depend on them, from unauthorized privatization... Read more »
State-Commissioned Line 5 Risk Analysis Underlines Urgency of Shutdown, FLOW Says || August 21, 2018
Even the significantly understated economic impacts of a spill from Line 5 at the Straits of Mackinac in a state-commissioned analysis reveal a fiscal and human price tag too high for the people of Michigan, FLOW (For Love of Water) said in comments submitted to Lansing officials before Sunday’s.. Read more »
FLOW Says Army Corps Must Conduct Full Environmental Review of Line 5 || July 20, 2018
Enbridge’s latest in a long series of requests for government approval of a change in design that elevates a large portion of Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac must trigger a full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a Great Lakes law and policy center.. Read more »
FLOW to Snyder and Schuette: Stop Delays, Scrap Side Deal, and Shut Down "Line 5" Pipelines to Prevent Great Lakes Oil Spill Disaster || July 16, 2018
Michigan is moving closer to a Great Lakes oil spill disaster and farther from a real alternative to the decaying oil pipelines in the Mackinac Straits, according to a Great Lakes law and policy center’s review released today of technical reports produced by Line 5-owner Enbridge at the direction.. Read more »
Latest Enbridge Reports Underscore Line 5's Vulnerability to 400 Michigan Waterways || June 29, 2018
Enbridge today released three reports required as part of the November 2017 agreement with the Governor concerning Line 5. The reports examine possible methodologies to mitigate potential leaks from Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac and at nearly 400 water crossings throughout Michigan.
“These reports from Enbridge provide a.. Read more »
Proposed "Line 5" Tunnel Under the Mackinac Straits Ignores Looming Disaster || June 15, 2018
A Canadian oil transport company would be assured billions of dollars in more profit, while the Great Lakes and Michigan’s tourist economy would face decades of more risk of an oil spill disaster from a new Line 5 pipeline tunnel or trench under the Mackinac Straits, as envisioned in a.. Read more »
FLOW Demands State Reject Latest Enbridge Ploy || May 14, 2018
In comments submitted to state officials Friday, FLOW is urging state regulators to deny a bid by Enbridge Energy to install 48 new anchor supports on dangerous Line 5 at the Straits of Mackinac while evading scrutiny of alternatives that would protect the environment.
Enbridge’s latest request, if approved, would.. Read more »
FLOW Challenges Wisconsin's Approval of Lake Michigan Water Diversion || May 14, 2018
A Lake Michigan water diversion approved by the State of Wisconsin is inconsistent with the Great Lakes Compact and threatens an open season on Great Lakes water, FLOW said today.
The Traverse City, Michigan-based science and law center asked Great Lakes governors and a Regional Body established by the.. Read more »
Line 5 Economic Report || May 2, 2018
A Line 5 oil spill could deliver a blow of over $6 billion in economic impacts and natural resource damages to Michigan’s economy, according to a study commissioned by FLOW. Conducted by nationally respected ecological economist Dr. Robert Richardson of Michigan State University, the study for the first time adds... Read more »
Public Comment to Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board || December 13, 2017
Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to comment on what is unfortunately a deeply flawed final Line 5 alternatives study. The people of Michigan are ill-served by this study. It cannot serve as a basis for an informed and intelligent decision about the fate of this profound.. Read more »
Liz Kirkwood's Comment to the Pipeline Safety Advisory Board || December 11, 2017
Over two years ago, the Governor of Michigan created this Advisory Board by Executive Order to “Review and make recommendations for statutory, regulatory, and contractual implementation of the Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force Report.” This meant the board was required to oversee an independent and comprehensive analysis of risks.. Read more »
FLOW Responds to State-Enbridge Agreement || November 27, 2017
FLOW issued the following statement today regarding the announcement of an agreement between the state of Michigan and Enbridge Energy concerning the company’s Line 5 oil pipelines in the open waters of the Mackinac Straits, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet:
“It is imprudent and arbitrary for the Governor.. Read more »
Pitting Corrosion and the Impact of Zebra and Quagga Mussels on Bare Steel Pipelines || October 31, 2017
Portions of the steel oil pipelines in the Mackinac Straits may have lost half their wall thickness since installation in 1953 and become dangerously weakened due to hard-to-detect pitting corrosion, an engineering expert said today.
The independent analysis further strengthens the case for an immediate shutdown of Line.. Read more »
1% for the Great Lakes || October 26, 2017
It’s called 1% for the Great Lakes, but it grows out of 100% enthusiasm for these majestic waters on the part of Timothy and Kathy Young, Founders of Esch Road Foods.
When Food For Thought launched Esch Road Foods, it was named after the founders’ favorite beach in the Sleeping.. Read more »
FLOW to Michigan Officials: Sideline the Study and Stop the Oil || August 4, 2017
FLOW today submitted formal public comments on the State of Michigan’s 337-page “Alternative Analysis for the Straits Pipeline,” calling on state officials to scrap the fatally flawed study and stop Line 5’s oil because of Enbridge’s repeated violations of the 1953 easement allowing the pipelines to occupy the.. Read more »
Enbridge's Neglect of 64-Year-Old "Line 5" Pipelines in Mackinac Straits Requires State to Apply Law, Stop Oil, Reject Permit || July 25, 2017
The state of Michigan must immediately apply the law, stop Line 5’s oil flow, and reject a Canadian company’s application to extract more life out of its decaying steel pipelines built in 1953, according to FLOW, a Traverse City-based Great Lakes water law and policy center in public comments.. Read more »
Analysis of Alternatives to 64-Year-Old "Line 5" Pipelines Riddled with Bad Assumptions, Miscalculations || July 24, 2017
A draft report for the State by Dynamic Risk Inc. of alternatives to Enbridge’s risky twin oil pipelines crossing the lakebed at the Straits of Mackinac is so deeply flawed, according to FLOW, a Traverse City-based Great Lakes water law and policy center, that the State cannot credibly rely.. Read more »
Enbridge's Neglect of 64-Year-Old "Line 5" Pipelines Risks Mackinac Straits, Requires State to Stop Oil and Hold Hearings || June 30, 2017
After the revelation earlier this month that Enbridge for years routinely violated a legal agreement to properly anchor its dual pipelines against the swift currents in the Mackinac Straits, the state of Michigan now must apply the law, stop Line 5’s oil flow, and hold public hearings as it considers .. Read more »
FLOW Urges State Rejection of Nestlé Corporation's Bid to Increase Water Extraction || April 21, 2017
Nestlé Corporation’s bid to massively accelerate its drawdown of groundwater in Osceola County for sale as bottled water falls far short of the bar set by Michigan water law, and must be denied, FLOW said today.
In official independent scientific and legal comments as the state today closes its public .. Read more »
FLOW Urges State Denial of Nestlé Corporation’s Water Grab || April 12, 2017
Based on law and science, the State of Michigan should reject a proposal by Nestlé Corporation to dramatically increase its pumping of hundreds of millions of gallons of groundwater a year in Osceola County, northeast of Big Rapids near Evart, for sale as bottled water under its Ice Mountain brand.. Read more »
Morsels Partners with FLOW in Continuation of Monthly Community Giving Partnership || April 4, 2017
For the month of April 2017, Morsels Espresso + Edibles, a specialty bakery, featuring unique, bite-sized baked goods, will be partnering with FLOW (For Love of Water), continuing an effort to support the Traverse City community through unique, partnering arrangements. Morsels
has created a custom morsel (their bite-sized bakery.. Read more »
Great Lakes Policy Expert, Environmental Historian Joins FLOW || April 3, 2017
Great Lakes water law and environmental policy non-profit, For Love Of Water (FLOW), has hired Great Lakes policy expert and environmental historian, Dave Dempsey, as Senior Advisor.
For the past six years, Dempsey has served as Policy Advisor to the International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC was established in.. Read more »
Citizens Respond to Attorney General Schuette: Get Off the Sidelines on Line 5 and Protect the Great Lakes || March 28, 2017
Responding today to a letter from Attorney General Bill Schuette, citizens groups from across the state told state officials that their decision to “stand on the sidelines” by failing to enforce legal requirements on pipeline operator Enbridge Energy Partners is putting the Great Lakes at risk from a catastrophic oil.. Read more »
State of Michigan Takes a "Holiday" from Preventing Line 5 Oil Spill Disaster in Great Lakes || March 9, 2017
The Snyder administration, in two letters (here and here) released Wednesday, indicated it will seek more information, but take no enforcement action, while continuing to accept Enbridge’s assurances that all is well with dual oil pipelines in the Mackinac Straits that the Canadian company itself has indicated are missing portions.. Read more »
In Wake of New Pipeline Concerns, Groups Call On Snyder, Schuette to Begin Shutting Down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac || February 21, 2017
Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette must require Enbridge to shut off the flow of oil through Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac following disclosures that the Canadian oil transport company’s pipeline has lost its protective coating, citizens groups said in a letter to the governor.. Read more »
Congressman Dan Kildee Introduces Legislation to Protect the Great Lakes, Michigan's Sport Fishing Industry || February 13, 2017
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), flanked by sports fishermen and conservationists at Red Fox Outfitters in Fenton, today announced that he has introduced new legislation in Congress to ban harmful aquaculture practices in both the Great Lakes and federally designated “Wild and Scenic Rivers,” which includes the Au Sable.. Read more »
FLOW Releases New Fact Sheets Regarding Line 5 || February 7, 2017
Just one to two propane rail cars or a few tanker trucks a day could replace the Line 5 pipeline’s Upper Peninsula propane capacity without risking energy security in the U.P. or a catastrophic Great Lakes oil spill, according to experts for FLOW, a water law and policy center.. Read more »
Human Rights to Water and Sanitation Toolkit || December 13, 2016
The Blue Planet Project, FLOW (For Love of Water), the Canadian Union of Pubic Employees, KruHa Indonesia, la Red Vida and the National Coalition on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation are pleased to launch the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation toolkit in advance of International Human Rights.. Read more »
Michigan's Growing Threat: Fish Farming in the Great Lakes & Tributaries || November 19, 2016
Michigan sits at the center of a debate over whether to open its Great Lakes waters to commercial aquaculture or fish farming. The practice involves packing thousands of fish into near-shore cages or mesh net-pens that rise above the surface, are anchored to the bottom, and accessed via .. Read more »
State Must Stop Oil Flow, Hold Public Hearings on the "Line 5" Oil Pipelines in the Mackinac Straits || August 25, 2016
Under Michigan law, the state must stop Line 5’s oil flow and hold public hearings on the steel pipelines lying underwater in the Mackinac Straits as it considers Enbridge Energy’s application to remedy easement violations and shore up its aging underwater infrastructure, according to FLOW (For Love of Water), a .. Read more »
State Has Ignored Enbridge's Line 5 Straits Pipeline Violations || August 4, 2016
Although Attorney General Bill Schuette and top state environmental agency directors yesterday notified Enbridge of violations of its agreement to operate oil pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac, officials only did so several months after being told by experts that powerful currents had washed away critical pipeline support infrastructure.
Schuette.. Read more »
Today's Approval of the Waukesha Diversion Application || June 21, 2016
For better or worse, the Compact governors’ decision approving Waukesha’s diversion is done. There were a number of loose provisions that pointed to a bad precedent where a community’s water system doesn’t even straddle the Basin divide. It will all depend on the details, the amendments and conditions made part.. Read more »
Public Comments to MI DNR, DEQ, and DARD on Aquaculture in the Great Lakes and Tributaries of Michigan || May 8, 2016
Aquaculture –often in the form of networks of enclosed pens that exclusively occupy a large area of surface water and underlying bottomlands—raises substantial legal, environmental, aquatic resource, and water use impact issues. Specifically, the use of public waters and bottomlands for the occupancy and operation of concentrated fish production raises.. Read more »
Enbridge Operating Line 5 Illegally || April 13, 2016
Citing new research and documentation revealing cracks, dents, corrosion, and structural defects in the twin oil pipelines in the Mackinac Straits, 22 environmental and tribal groups today formally requested that Gov. Snyder and Attorney General Schuette shut down “Line 5” oil in the Straits based on Enbridge’s multiple easement violations.. Read more »
FLOW Submits Comments on the Waukesha Diversion Application || March 1, 2016
Failing to meet strict standards or demonstrate a public need, a Wisconsin city’s precedent-setting request to divert as much as 16 million gallons a day of Lake Michigan water outside the basin that drains back into the Great Lakes should be rejected by the Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and.. Read more »
FLOW Submits Testimony in Support of Ban on Commercial Aquaculture in Great Lakes || February 12, 2016
On February 1, 2016, FLOW submitted written testimony to members of the House Natural Resources Committee in support of HB 5255’s ban on commercial cage (or net-pen) aquaculture in the Great Lakes. Read the full testimony here. Read more »
State Advisory Board Must Recognize Urgency, Consider Line 5 Oil Pipeline's Impact to Inland Waterways and Climate Change || February 12, 2016
Great Lakes law and policy center FLOW submitted additional comments today to the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board in response to its requests for information and proposals to conduct alternatives and risk analyses for the Line 5 oil pipelines in the Mackinac Straits. The group expressed deep concern about the.. Read more »
U.S.-Canadian Boundary Water Governing Board Recommends Game-Changing Public Trust Framework to Safeguard Great Lakes || January 21, 2016
The International Joint Commission issued a much anticipated report today on the success of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Sustainable Water Resources Agreementand Compact ban on diversions and excessive consumptive water practices. While the IJC gave the Compact and efforts by states and provinces a positive grade, it also.. Read more »
Straits Oil Pipelines Not Needed to Meet Michigan, Midwest Demand; Report Challenges Enbridge's Goal to Build Midwest Version of Rejected 'Keystone XL' Pipeline || December 13, 2015
Decommissioning the twin pipelines in the Mackinac Straits to prevent a catastrophic oil spill would not disrupt Michigan’s or the Midwest’s crude oil and propane supply, contrary to assertions by the pipelines’ owner, according to a Great Lakes law and policy group that released a set of expert reports today.. Read more »
Great Lakes Lawyers & Scientists Urge Gov. Snyder & AG Schuette: Imminent Hazard Requires Immediate Actions to Eliminate Oil Risk in Straits of Mackinac || September 21, 2015
Filling a void left by the state, a Great Lakes law and policy group and its scientific advisors released a report today calling on the Snyder administration to take interim steps – including the immediate temporary halt of oil flowing through two aging pipelines in the Mackinac Straits – and.. Read more »
FLOW Responds to Task Force Report || July 14, 2015
This morning Attorney General Bill Schuette and DEQ Director Dan Wyant released the long-awaited Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force report, outlining specific recommendations to address the significant risks surrounding a Canadian pipeline company’s controversial twin pipelines (known as “Line 5” or the Straits Pipelines). The Task Force report establishes.. Read more »
Cannon Township Enacts Ordinances to Regulate Ancillary Oil and Gas Activities || January 15, 2015
As part of FLOW’s Model Local Ordinance Program, Monday, Cannon Township enacted three new ordinances to regulate ancillary oil and gas activities. Congratulations and well wishes to everyone in Cannon as they move forward in their process to protect their community and give voice to the concerns of their citizenry.. Read more »
Oil & Water Presents to Petroleum Task Force || December 16, 2014
In formal remarks today to a state task force on oil pipelines, representatives of key environmental and Great Lakes groups – echoing the concerns of businesses, governments, and thousands of citizens – called on Governor Snyder to take swift and meaningful action to protect the Great Lakes from a catastrophic.. Read more »
Pressure Mounts for Gov. Snyder to Act as Coast Guard Admits it is Unprepared for Heavy Oil Spill || September 15, 2014
Citizens groups today called on Gov. Rick Snyder to take immediate steps toward protecting Michigan from oil pipelines running through the Straits of Mackinac, in the wake of revelations that the United States Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a major heavy oil spill in the Great Lakes.
“The governor.. Read more »
FLOW Urges the Department of Environmental Quality to Strengthen Its Proposed 2014 Fracking Regulations to Protect Michigan's Water, Air, and Land Resources || August 1, 2014
On July 31, 2014, FLOW submitted extensive public comments to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding their proposed fracking regulations on water withdrawals, baseline water quality sampling, monitoring and reporting, and chemical disclosure. FLOW’s comments urge the DEQ to take a number of steps to strengthen the oil and.. Read more »
Environmental Groups Demand Governor and State Take Immediate Action to Protect the Great Lakes from Hazardous Enbridge Mackinac Straits Oil Pipeline || July 2, 2014
17 Conservation, water and environmental groups and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians today sent a letter to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder urging greater state action to regulate Enbridge Pipeline No. 5. The 61 year-old pipeline transports nearly 23 million gallons of crude oil and other petroleum.. Read more »
World Renowned Water Activist, Maude Barlow, to Speak on Regional Water Issues in Detroit || May 14, 2014
On Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. the People’s Water Board Coalition will partner with Wayne State University’s Office of Sustainability to host a special discussion on regional Great Lakes water issues and public trust with Maude Barlow.
Barlow is the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians and.. Read more »
FLOW Awarded NMEAC John Nelson Water Steward Award || May 2, 2014
On April 25, 2014, Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC) honored FLOW with the John Nelson Water Steward Award at their Annual Environmentalist of the Year Celebration. This award recognizes organizations for their water stewardship efforts. Its namesake, John Nelson, is the Grand Traverse Baykeeper, whose extraordinary leadership protects the.. Read more »
Longtime FLOW Volunteer Eric Olson Steps Down as Communications Director || May 1, 2014
Presiding selflessly as an unpaid volunteer Executive Director from 2009 to 2012 and then as Communications and Education Director from 2012 to April 2014, Eric Olson has stepped down from his staff role and now maintains his position as Vice Chair and interim Secretary of the Board of Directors.
Eric.. Read more »
Public Trust Doctrine Policy Framework Encouraged in Final LEEP Report || February 27, 2014
FLOW lauds the International Joint Commission (IJC) for including public trust standards into its recommendations for solving Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms in its 2014 final Lake Erie Ecosystem Priority (LEEP) report. FLOW’s comments to the IJC on its draft LEEP report (2013) urged state governments to apply public trust.. Read more »
Jim Olson Pens Seminal Article on Public Trust in the Great Lakes || February 24, 2014
FLOW Founder and veteran water attorney Jim Olson has recently published his latest article about the public trust in the Great Lakes. The seminal article “All Aboard: Navigating the Course for Universal Adoption of the Public Trust” appears in the Spring 2014 edition of the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.. Read more »
Beand4Blue Coffee Now in Three Blends at Stores Statewide || February 11, 2014
A new series of three coffee blends aims to caffeinate and conserve water for Great Lakes lovers. The Beans 4 Blue coffee line from Traverse City-based Great Northern Roasting Company (GNRC) has three blends: the original Lake Effect blend, the Wake 5 dark roast, and the Shoreline light roast.. Read more »
FLOW Local Ordinance Program Addresses Fracking Impacts in Conway Township, MI || February 10, 2014
In February of 2014, Conway Township signed up as the third township to participate in FLOW’s Local Ordinance program that helps the township develop regulatory ordinances to address potential risks and impacts of high volume hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for oil and gas. On February 6th, FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood.. Read more »
FLOW Selected as Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) Site of the Month || February 5, 2014
The Great Lakes Commission-based Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) has named FLOW their Site of the Month for February. As a GLIN partner, FLOW is honored to contribute to their outstanding resource network.
GLIN is a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to.. Read more »
FLOW Staff to Issue Public Statement at Army Corps of Engineers Public Comment Forums on the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study || January 23, 2014
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) public comment forums on the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) report makes the fifth of nine stops in Traverse City, MI on Thursday, January 23, 2014. FLOW, a Traverse-City based nonprofit water policy and education center, has prepared written.. Read more »
FLOW Marks First Two Protective Ordinance Packages || November 15, 2013
In late November, FLOW—the Great Lakes Basin’s only public trust policy and education center—will roll out two Protective Ordinance Packages for two separate townships in Michigan. The Protective Ordinance Packages are designed to protect the townships’ water, land, and air resources from impacts of the high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF).. Read more »
Annual Celebration of the Great Lakes Society || August 17, 2013
FLOW (“For Love Of Water”), the Great Lakes Basin’s only public trust policy and education center, is hosting its first Great Lakes Society Annual Celebration at The Workshop Brewing Company in Traverse City, MI from 12-3pm, on Saturday, August 17, 2013. FLOW welcomes community members and guests of all.. Read more »
Signs Now Traverse City 2013 Recycling Program Recipient: FLOW || August 9, 2013
Andrew and Amy Kohlmann, owners of Signs Now Traverse City, recently selected FLOW (For Love of Water) as the recipient of their 2013 recycling program proceeds. The team at Signs Now Traverse City, located at 1702 Barlow St., recycles returned signage materials throughout the year and will donate a percentage.. Read more »
FLOW Featured on UpNorth TV's Volunteer Northwest Michigan Program in July || June 27, 2013
FLOW, the Great Lakes Basin’s only public trust policy and education center, will be featured on UpNorth TV, channel 2, throughout the month of July, every Sunday and Wednesday evening from 8pm-9pm, and every Friday morning from 9am-10am. Hosted by United Way of Northwest Michigan, the Volunteer Northwest.. Read more »
UPDATE: Township Fracking Regulation Ordinance Program || June 14, 2013
FLOW, the Great Lakes Basin’s only public trust policy and education center, will be traveling down state to both Cannon Township and Gun Plain Charter Township on June 19 to facilitate a three-part workshop on legal strategies to address the impacts of horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” FLOW.. Read more »
Fracking Suspected Cause of Residential Water Well Failure in Kalkaska County || June 13, 2013
Last week, fracking operations at the Westerman 1-29 HD1 continued, despite ongoing issues with the water supply on the pad. The additional water wells installed on and off the well pad failed to yield sufficient volumes to complete the well and Encana continued to obtain water from the Kalkaska.. Read more »
Fracking Creating Major Water Consumption Issues Near Kalkaska || June 5, 2013
Concerns about the impact to local groundwater by massive water use- on a scale never before seen in Michigan fracking operations- are coming to a head, as Encana Oil and Gas’s plan to use 8.4 million gallons of water to fracture a single well has been stymied by a.. Read more »
Thousands Demand Lone Pine Drop Its NAFTA Lawsuit Against Québec's Fracking Moratorium || May 31, 2013
Two weeks after the launch of a public petition, organizers have received over 3,000 signatures demanding that energy company Lone Pine Resources drop its $250 million NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) lawsuit against Canada for Québec’s moratorium on fracking.
The petition sponsors—the Council of Canadians, the Réseau québécois.. Read more »
FLOW Local Ordinance Program Brings Fracking Protection to Two Michigan Townships || May 23, 2013
Two Michigan Townships—Cannon Township and Gun Plain Charter Township—signed up with FLOW to develop regulatory ordinances on horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” FLOW is the Great Lakes Basin’s only public trust policy and education center. These townships, in Kent County and Allegan County respectively, are taking the lead in.. Read more »
FLOW Staff to Issue Public Statement at Governor's Energy Forum in Traverse City || April 18, 2013
Governor Rick Snyder’s “Readying Michigan to Make Good Energy Decisions” Public Forum tour makes its seventh and final stop in Traverse City on Monday April 22, 2013. FLOW, a Traverse City-based nonprofit water policy and education center, has prepared written comments and will made public statements during next week’s.. Read more »
Fracktivism || November 12, 2012
On Monday, FLOW Chair, Jim Olson spoke to a group of 150 people in Allegan, Michigan about specific legal strategies to empower local communities and townships to proactively address the unprecedented impacts of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, on land use, water, and other natural resources. FLOW, Food &.. Read more »
Addressing Record Low Water Levels in the Great Lakes || October 24, 2012
For Love of Water (FLOW) submitted comments to the International Joint Commission (IJC) to demonstrate how public trust principles can be applied to complement and aid this international governing body in making current and future decisions and orders affecting the flows, levels, environment, and public and private uses and benefits.. Read more »
DNR Auction Release || September 12, 2012
On October 24, 2012 Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public auction offering approximately 196,000 acres of state-owned oil and gas lease rights across 22 Michigan counties. Some acreage includes ecologically sensitive and specially designated areas, including state parks, game, wildlife, and recreational areas. In.. Read more »
The Start of a Resolution || August 1, 2012
Andy Knott and John Nelson had something to celebrate. It was 2012 and the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global organization of water advocates founded in 1999 by environmental attorney and activists, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., had just adopted a resolution at their annual conference in Portland, Oregon, that expressed support for.. Read more »
Proposed Ohio Lake Erie Water Bill Takes Bloom Off Spring || May 21, 2012
The Ohio Senate may take up a bill to regulate water law this week that could drain the brilliant blue off the color of Lake Erie. The bill, known as H.B. 473, with some variations in the senate, may fall far short of what most citizens and businesses in.. Read more »
