Above: FLOW staff and board at our 2018 major event, An Evening for the Great Lakes, at Cherry Basket Farm. Photo by Beth Price. Dear Great Lakes Guardians, Welcome to our 2018 Annual Report, tracing FLOW’s key accomplishments across the year in protecting the Great Lakes and groundwater that sustain us all physically, emotionally, and… Read more »
Developing a deep sense of stewardship for our Great Lakes also means celebrating the creativity and passion sparked by these magnificent freshwater resources. “Art Meets Water” is an ongoing series of collaborations with committed artists, inspired by the ability of art to amplify our critical connection to water. The Great Lakes Belong to All of… Read more »
Strengthening Local Control Over the Water and Public Health Impacts of Fracking FLOW is partnering with select counties and townships in Michigan to develop local zoning or police power ordinances to protect their communities and their water from the industrial land-use impacts of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” a water-intensive oil and gas extraction method. These… Read more »
Current Board Gary Appel Tom Baird Mike Dettmer Phil Ellis Katie Horvath Renee Huckle Mittelstaedt Rick Kane Emma Lui Sarah Naperala Bob Otwell Skip Pruss Royce Ragland Keith Schneider Kate Thornhill Mike Vickery Emily Wurth Former Board Ross Biederman Lew Coulter Ted Curran Eric Olson Rich Vanderveen Current Staff Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director Dave Dempsey,… Read more »
Upcoming Zoom Webinar Enbridge Line 5: Trouble under the Surface August 20, 2024 12pm EDT Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline is over 71 years old and remains a threat to the waters and people of the Great Lakes region. On August 20, join FLOW and Oil & Water Don’t Mix for a special live webinar, and… Read more »
We are so used to turning on the tap and receiving safe drinking water that we often forget how vulnerable that water can be to contamination. During Drinking Water Week, recognized May 5-11 by the State of Michigan and nationally, filling knowledge gaps is a critical priority. Knowing the source of your drinking water is… Read more »
Policy Brief: The Case for a Statewide Septic Code in Michigan (Download PDF) Michigan is located at the heart of the most extensive fresh surface water system in North America, which comprises about 90% of all fresh surface water in the region. However, it is the only state in the US that does not have… Read more »
Download the policy brief: Polluter Accountability (PDF) The repeal of the Polluter Pay law has cost Michigan taxpayers over $1.5 billion over the past 25 years1. Polluters have walked away from more than 3,000 contaminated sites with groundwater and soil too polluted to use, leaving taxpayers on the hook for billions more. The rollback has… Read more »
Download the brief: Stormwater Utilities (pdf) Over the past few decades, Michigan has faced an increase in unpredictable storm events. Unfortunately, our existing stormwater infrastructure is not built to handle the frequency and intensity of these storms, creating problems with water runoff and flooding. This, in turn, has led to problems such as water pollution,… Read more »
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 »
