Agencies propose Great Lakes cleanup

[UrbScotty]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-great-lakes-restoration,0,6964655.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

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A partnership of federal, state, tribal and local agencies released a draft plan Thursday for restoring the lakes ecosystem, which officials said remains in peril despite improvements the past 30 years.

Environmentalist groups praised the plan, likening it to other federal initiatives that have taken a comprehensive approach to ecosystem restoration in places such as the Florida Everglades and Chesapeake Bay. But they said its ultimate success would depend on how well Congress and state legislatures follow through -- especially by providing money.

"If they do not, the Great Lakes as we know them and love them will continue to slowly die," said Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association.

It wasn't immediately clear how much money would be sought. Based on numbers in the draft, a coalition of environmentalist groups said big-ticket items would cost roughly $20 billion over five years, including $13.7 billion to modernize city sewer systems. Legislation already introduced in Congress seeks $4 billion to $6 billion for Great Lakes cleanup.

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[shoelace414]

1. well.. for Lake Michigan

They are still poisoning the Lamprey breeding grounds (to keep them from killing all the fish).. it's infested with Alewives.. Zebra Muscles..

oh.. they're talking about industrial pollution

[Massacure]

2. Zebra muscles are probably the biggest problem.

[Nihil]

3. Yeah ...

... those zebras are strong b*st*rds aren't they?

:hi:

[Viking12]

4. and they're hell on fishing line.....

However, some native species are adapting to their presence. The freshwater drum (sheephead) have incorporated the zebras into their diet and there is speculation that the lake sturgeon has as well.
Perhaps a balance will develop someday.