The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in late July released for public comment a General Permit category that further endangers Michigan's Great Lakes coastal wetlands. The permit would allow one or more shoreline property owners in Grand Traverse Bay and Saginaw Bay, or local units of government on behalf of any or all of their shoreline property owners, to apply for a permit to remove vegetation, impairing the wetland's ability to prevent erosion, provide fish and wildlife habitat and protect water quality.

The destructive wetland amendments passed by the Legislature last year allowed for, but did not require, the DEQ to establish a General Permit category for this type of activity. This move by the DEQ, advocates charged, is in response to pressure from a narrow special interest group that represents a small minority of shoreline property owners.

"As we all know, the DEQ is severely restricted in their ability to protect Michigan's valuable wetland resources because of shrinking budgets. It is shameful that they choose to waste their limited resources serving very few property owners who don't value the dynamic nature of the lakes," said Chris Grubb, coordinator of the Michigan Wetland Action Coalition, a statewide coalition of wetland advocates.

At a hearing in May of the state Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, several prominent scientists testified that coastal wetlands are some of the most ecologically valuable areas in the Great Lakes, providing fish and wildlife habitat, erosion control and water quality protection, and that so-called "beach grooming" activities can impair all of those functions. Senators on both sides of the aisle expressed concern about what they heard. "I thought when we passed this legislation it was a good compromise," said Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor). "Had I heard this discussion a year ago, it would have probably influenced my decision." Added Sen. Gerald VanWoerkom (R-Muskegon): "I was surprised and troubled by what I heard today."

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council's Wil Cwikiel also presented, in written testimony, the results from a study in Racine, Wisconsin, showing significantly increased concentrations of E. coli found on mechanically-groomed areas of the beach compared with areas left ungroomed. As of July 15, Michigan public beaches exceeded acceptable E. coli standards 93 times this summer. The possibility that mechanical grooming can exacerbate the problem is a major concern. Unlike traditional wetland permit applications, activities that fall under the DEQ's General Permit are not put out for public notice and comment.