LANSING – Amid intense budget deliberations, State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), Chair of the Great Lakes and Environment Committee, successfully negotiated a bipartisan plan to protect Michigan's wetlands and ensure that their oversight remains the responsibility of the people of Michigan. The plan, which passed the House on Thursday, comes in the face of proposals by the Governor to transfer the supervision of Michigan's wetlands to the federal government.
"Transferring authority over our wetlands to the federal government would not only have diminished the critical safeguards we currently have in place to ensure their preservation, but also left almost one million acres of these precious natural resources wholly unprotected," said Warren. "As the Great Lakes State, our natural resources impact nearly every aspect of life in Michigan, and wetlands play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the quality of our water, air and land. It is absolutely crucial that the people of Michigan, who have a vested interest in the conservation of our wetlands, retain ownership over this program. "
The Governor has proposed eliminating the 30-year-old Wetland Protection Act and shifting oversight of Michigan's 5.5 million acres of wetlands from the Department of Environmental Quality to the federal government – a move that would leave Michigan as one of just two Great Lakes states without any wetlands protection.
The plan that Warren negotiated will:
- Affirm that Michigan retains responsibility for oversight of its wetlands.
- Increase local governments' and conservation districts' involvement in wetlands protection.
- Establish a Wetlands Advisory Council with representatives from government, business and conservation groups to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
The plan also requires the identification of 2,500 acres for cranberry production, a move that will create 383 permanent jobs and generate nearly $30 million annually. In addition, the construction of these new cranberry bogs is expected to generate $153 million dollars and put more than 1,000 Michigan residents back to work.