After three years of unrelenting effort by citizen advocates, Spring Lake Township officials approved a wetland protection ordinance in February. A leading advocate for the ordinance was local resident Deb Pless. Michigan Environmental Report interviewed her about her campaign to make the township the first in Ottawa County-and one of the first on the west side of the state-to enact a wetland ordinance.

Why do you personally value wetlands?

Wetlands have become the last refuge for much of our wildlife. I recognize the interconnectedness of man and nature. I believe the effects of piece-mealing and fragmentation are the most serious threats to our environment locally. Spring Lake is a seven-mile lake; we have the Grand River and Lake Michigan. It seems natural to promote greater sensitivity toward our land use issues by promoting wetland preservation at the local level. Being closer to the resource, we can do a better job. When I saw what we had lost through utter neglect, I became motivated to do something.

When did you get the idea for a local wetland ordinance, and why did you think it was a good idea for Spring Lake?

I was like many people. I was very busy, as a mother and a business owner, involved in many things. I honestly never connected the dots until one day plans for a subdivision happened in my back yard. There simply was no one else stepping up to the plate to speak up for the coastal wetland that was going to be destroyed. I educated myself and realized that it is at the local level that we can change the world. I didn't stop this development, but I influenced the Township's decision. For the first time in Spring Lake a coastal wetland complex was protected by the Township in a restrictive covenant. After this happened, I was appointed to the Planning Commission for a three-year appointment. If I made the best use of this time and worked hard to advocate for a local wetland ordinance, I might just get it. I understood there was a great opportunity to influence and inspire the entire West Michigan region.

Please describe the process.

I began to lobby the Planning Commission about the benefits of a local wetland ordinance. Once the vision was established, we became determined. At first we wanted a moratorium while we worked on the wetland ordinance. In fact, we sent this request to the Board twice and were denied. This publicity fueled the citizens' desire for an ordinance, and the Board relented and appropriated the funds to us. The Township's first environmental consultant was hired. Wetland scientist Stu Kogge, former head of the DEQ's wetland assessment program for 13 years. Then we began the painstaking work of studying several local wetland ordinances. We decided we should include a 25-foot buffer through our zoning ordinance. I got the wetland map through the County GIS department, at tremendous savings. We held wetland open houses for the public.

After two and one-half years of revisions and tweaking, we put together an ad hoc committee. This had local developers, another wetland scientist and a Trustee/Planning Commissioner. This committee added the final touches and fine tuning. Throughout the entire process, we met tremendous adversity from the Board majority. There was a lot of undermining, misinformation, fear and slander. We worked through it. We hammered home the facts, the needs and the benefits of a local ordinance. The community supported us. I started a local grassroots citizen group called Wetland Watch.

In the end, it was really citizen pressure, the threat of recall and sheer determination that got us unanimous approval on February 10. The following month-March 10-Chairman Dr. Richard Brown and I as Vice Chair were not reappointed to the Planning Commission for another term. The reason given was that I had a goal of getting a wetland ordinance when I came on board. That's the price of doing business.

What in the end, led to the ordinance being enacted despite such fierce opposition?

It was definitely relentless citizen pressure and the recall. To avoid being recalled, the Board approved the wetland ordinance. They continue to undermine it. The recall vote was March 18 and was not successful. Some good came out of it because the Board had to really say that they support the wetland ordinance. There will be new elections in 2004; all they did was buy some time. In the meantime, the people will watch them closely.

How much impact do you think the ordinance will have on protecting wetlands?

I know this ordinance will have tremendous impacts. For one thing, all people will be discouraged from building in wetlands. The ordinance will serve as a deterrent and will educate the community. Over time it will become a source of pride.

What lessons do you draw from your experience that might benefit other wetland activists around Michigan?

I would encourage anyone who is interested to get a copy of Spring Lake Township's wetland ordinance. Our dream was to share our knowledge. This ordinance cost $30,000. Why should other communities reinvent the wheel? Mr. Kogge believes this is the best wetland ordinance he has ever seen. This beautiful ordinance could be tailored for other communities. They should also get a copy of the survey conducted by Wetland Watch. We surveyed 18 townships in Michigan that have had wetland ordinances, most for well over ten years. The survey showed, among other things, there were no "takings lawsuits," building was not stopped, more open space was created, [and] cleaner water and higher property values [resulted]. Not one of the townships had bad things to say, and they were all very proud of their wetland ordinances. They all felt the wetland ordinance created an atmosphere of a higher quality of life.