Following up on the highly successful "Smart Growth for Clean Water" conference hosted by the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) earlier this year, MEC joined environmental and water advocates from more than 30 states in Washington DC last month to discuss current river protection initiatives. Invited by sponsoring group American Rivers, participants in the "Healthy River, Healthy Communities" conference met with 156 U.S. congressional offices, highlighting the need for policies that support river and watershed health.

"Water doesn't follow municipal boundaries," said MEC Land Programs Specialist Ben Stupka, who attended the event and met with several members of Michigan's delegation. "This event helped us drive home the point that policy decisions that just serve parochial interests aren't helping address the health of our rivers, watersheds and communities."

The Michigan contingent was also asked to present Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) with a River Hero Award at the event's closing reception. Stupak was recognized for his leadership role on several critical pieces of environmental legislation in the past few years, including stopping so-called "blending" proposals from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would have allowed municipal wastewater utilities more leeway in dumping partially treated sewage whenever it rains, and co-sponsoring "Save Our Waters from Sewage" proposals. Stupak also took the lead in attempting to make the current ban on slant drilling in the Great Lakes permanent.

"It was a great pleasure to present Congressman Stupak with the River Hero Award," said Dan Keifer from the Clinton River Watershed Council. "It is great to see another decision-maker who understands that at every level of policy making, your priority has to be the health of our watersheds and the health of our Great Lakes."

In addition to Ben, Michigan was represented at the September 12 event by Dan Kiefer of the Clinton River Watershed Council and Ron Hohman from the Au Sable River Watershed. The groups addressed the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act and the Great Lakes Regional Collaborative, and also took the opportunity to talk to leaders about the need to secure funding and update the criteria for State Revolving Fund expenditures, integrate a health impact study into the Detroit River International Crossing proposals and protect the now-threatened Endangered Species Act.

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