In its early years, Manistee was a lumbering community and busy commercial fishing port. Now known as the "Victorian Port City" for its stately and picturesque Victorian homes, the city also boasts the elegant and historic Ramsdell Theater, a revived downtown and new scenic riverwalk. The seat of rural Manistee County, with large areas of national forest and one of the state's top charter boat fishing industries, the city is also becoming a tempting refuge for urban-weary professionals and retirees.

This may all change pending the outcome of a proposal for Manistee Lake. Although the lake has historically been "industrial," residents are now just beginning to speak openly about restoring its health and adding the lake to the area's growing list of attractions. They are dismayed at the potential for those plans to be derailed by a proposal by the Tondu Corporation to build a new coal-fired power plant on its shore. According to Fred La Point, leader of the new Manistee Citizens for Responsible Development, "The city of Manistee and the county will not recognize any long-term economic advantages from this plant. There are other uses for the Manistee Lake property that will offer real economic advantages to our community for the short and long term, such as a 'mixed use' light commercial and residential development."

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is studying the health of the Manistee River and pushing for cleanup of Manistee Lake. According to Lee Sprague, the new head of the tribe, "The negative impact on the health, safety and welfare of our Nation and our People by far outweigh the benefit of 60 jobs. We also have to speak for the wildlife in the area-the Manistee Planning Commission does not take comments from wildlife on the impact to their lives."

The outcome of this proposal has implications that reach beyond Manistee, especially as the largest source of mercury pollution to Lake Michigan is from air sources such as coal plants. Because of mercury's toxicity and ability to accumulate in the food chain, it takes very little to harm human health and the environment, and exposure can result in long-lasting health effects, especially on children and fetal development during pregnancy.

To make matters worse, the new plant would be allowed higher mercury emissions under a new plan by the Bush Administration called "Clear Skies." Clear Skies would allow three times more toxic mercury emissions, 50% more sulfur emissions and hundreds of thousands more tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides than plans that were already underway as part of the existing Clean Air Act.

The Lake Michigan Federation supports and applauds the efforts of the Manistee groups' active and informed protection at the community level as one of the best ways to protect one of the region's most important assets-Lake Michigan. More information on the proposal is available at the Manistee Citizens for Responsible Development web site, http://www.manisteecfrd.org/.