More than 200 concerned citizen leaders from across the region, including MEC President Lana Pollack, attended the "Healing Our Water" conference in Grand Rapids September 8-9. The event followed over a year of regional organizing in support of a proposed federal-state strategy to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

Launched in 2004 by Peter Wege, a philanthropist and former Steelcase Company executive, the Healing Our Waters coalition plans annual meetings to continue promoting the Great Lakes restoration cause. Similar citizen pressure contributed to the $8 billion Florida Everglades restoration approved by Congress.

"They say it's going to take 20 years," said Wege to conference attendees. "I'm 85. I want it done by the time I'm 90. All those in favor, hold up their hands." Everyone in the room did.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in July released a draft Great Lakes strategy that would commit $20 billion in federal and state funds to sewage controls, toxic cleanup, invasive species controls and other measures to restore the health of the Great Lakes. A public comment period on the plan ended September 9. EPA plans to announce a revised strategy in Chicago on December 12.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm spoke at the event and called for state legislation to conserve water. State Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck) made a presentation on the Great Lakes multi-state legislative caucus that she helped establish.

For more information, visit www.healingourwaters.org.

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