Region 5- Great Lakes

Region Five is located in the upper midwest and is bordered by Canada to the north, Pennsylvania and New York to the East, the Dakots to the west and Iowa and Missouri to the south. The Great Lakes Region consists of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The most important water bodies in this region are the five Great Lakes- Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior. Major water issues in this area include animal waste storage, disposal and dumping, fertilize/nurtrient runoff and invasive species.

Issue(s):

Agriculture

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

Coast / Oceans

Enforcement

Funding

Global Warming and Water

Green Infrastructure

Impaired Waters (TMDL)

Pollutants (toxins, pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Water Quality Standards

Save the Illinois River Action Alert

January 23, 2012

Action Alert

Region(s)/State(s):

National

Region 4

Region 5

Save the Illinois River (STIR) is concerned about a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study for the Illinois River watershed in Oklahoma and Arkansas. This study by U.S. EPA is now underway with the cooperation of both states. STIR is very concerned that there may currently be an effort to steer the EPA’s TMDL study in order to prolong and confuse its completion and implementation. Please check out the attached letter outlining the group's concerns, sent by STIR leaders to Administrator Lisa Jackson at EPA. More information about STIR and this issue can be found on their website: http://www.illinoisriver.org/default.aspx Picture from Save the Illinois River http://www.illinoisriver.org/Photos/15486.jpg

Great Lakes News Washington Update-July 28

July 28, 2011

Legislative Update

Region(s)/State(s):

Region 5

Update provided by Chad Lord from NPCA & Healing Our Waters

1-LaTourette Amendment adds $50 million to GLRI

2-Clark tries to fund Asian carp defense

3-Countdown to Debtageddon continues

1-LaTourette Amendment adds $50 million to GLRI

Huge Cuts for Great Lakes Funding in House Interior Aprops bill

July 21, 2011

Policy

Region(s)/State(s):

Region 5

APPROPRIATIONS: Interior-EPA spending bill cuts deep into Great Lakes (07/20/2011)

CWN Signs Letter Thanking Senator Feingold for His Extraordinary Leadership

January 10, 2011

Legislative Update

Region(s)/State(s):

National

Wisconsin

CWN joined a number of other groups on a sign-on letter addressed to outgoing Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). The letter thanked Senator Feingold for his extraordinary leadership in reforming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and improving the way the Corps of Engineers plans and constructs federal water projects. His longstanding leadership led to the enactment of vitally needed reforms that are having- and will continue to have- profound and lasting effects on the health and vitality of the nation's rivers, coasts and wetlands. The letter also thanked a number of his most dedicated staff members that played an invaluable role in this effort including Mary Frances Repko, Heather White, Jessica Maher and Kelly Reed.

Great Lakes Legislative Update

March 4, 2010

Legislative Update

Region(s)/State(s):

Region 5

On March 4th, the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate by Great Lakes champions. The bill, S. 3073, was introduced in the Senate by Carl Levin along with co-sponsors George Voinovich (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). The House bill, H.R. 4755, was introduced by Representative Vern Ehlers with co-sponsors John Dingell (D-MI), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).