Great Lakes key front in water wars

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/chi-water_bdoct28,0,3142729.story

While the West burns and the Southeast bakes, there is little to suggest a large-scale, climatological catastrophe playing out any time soon in the Midwest. In fact, farmers in Iowa and Minnesota had trouble last week harvesting their corn and soybean crops because there had been too much rain.

But potentially huge battles over water are looming in the Great Lakes region as cities, towns and states near and far fight for access to the world's largest body of fresh surface water, all of it residing in the five Great Lakes.

Call them water wars, with the Great Lakes states hunkering down to protect what they see as theirs.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic candidate for president, gave voice to his water lust early this month by suggesting that water from the Great Lakes could be piped to the rapidly growing -- and increasingly dry -- Southwestern states.

"States like Wisconsin are awash in water," Richardson told the Las Vegas Sun.

Richardson soon backed off after swift protests from the Midwest, including a resounding "No" from Michigan's Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

[baldguy]

1. So, are we going to invade Canada now?

The management of the Great Lakes Basin is done by international treaty. Nothing can be done to them without Canada's consent, and they absolutely refuse to allow any water to be diverted from the Great Lakes watershed.

[Toots]

5. Republicans have shown how much they respect International Treaties

As has America in General, just ask the Indians....Treaties really don't mean very much in these new days of 9-11 changed EVERYTHING..

[baldguy]

6. You're right of course, what was I thinking?

The most dangerous nation in the world isn't Iraq. Its America with Republicans in charge.

[MadHound]

2. Sorry, but these desert states and desert cities have brought this on themselves

Mankind wasn't meant to live in large numbers in a desert, nor was he meant to turn those cities and villages into communities awash in water. It simply isn't sustainable, and after having used up on major river and most of a major aquifer, we should quite frankly say enough is enough and tell the residents that they're on their own. I know that sounds harsh, but anything else is simply throwing good money after bad so to speak.

The desert southwest was never meant to be settled in the manner it has been. Rather than trying to continue this unnatural desert existence, the population needs to face reality, move back to where life is more sustainable, and stop sucking up water to try and sustain their unnatural existence. It is not only extremely unfair, but it is an exercise in futility, for sooner or later those desert communities will fail. The only question now is whether they will take the rest of our fresh water with them, thus bringing our entire society down.

[Horse with no Name]

13. I'd love to know how much water the Golf Courses and resorts use

that is very unnatural.

[OzarkDem]

18. Well said

Its a lifestyle that isn't sustainable for the long term and will fail eventually. Remember when people used to practice xeriscaping in desert areas? They didn't try to grow grass in the middle of the desert, they landscaped with plants and materials native to the area that didn't require excessive watering.


http://xeriscape.org/

According to this web site, 50% of residential water use is for landscaping.

[LeftHander]

3. Excuse me Bill...we chose to NOT live in the desert!!!

LEAVE OUR LAKES ALONE!

[HereSince1628]

4. International agreement with Canada prevents water being moved

into or out of the Great Lakes Basin.

A close look at a topographic map will show that even states and provinces which have Great Lakes shorelines, often have limited geographic inclusion in the basin.

Consequently, cities in SE Wisconsin within 10 miles of Lake Michigan are outside the basin and prohibited from purchasing water from water districts within the basin. This has been an important issue because many of the aquifers used by municipalities in SE Wisconsin are contaminated with radon and the radioactive contamination of public drinking water exceeds federal safety standards.

Don't expect to see water moving via pipeline aquaducts from the G.L. basin into the great plains or southeast--it frequently can't move to neighboring counties.

SO, if you want to drink it you'll just have to come to it. Just be careful that you actually nest inside the basin, or you might as well be in Phoenix.

[notadmblnd]

7. Why don't those people just relocate up here and they can have all the water they

could possibly ever want? Didn't they all know that water was limited in desert regions?

[ozone_man]

19. One would think.

I think what it really boils down to is that many people would like to live where it is warm and dry (for example in the South West). But they complain when it is a little too warm or a little too dry. A painful lesson, but a lesson that must be learned. Water is essential to life. So we need to live more sustainably. To reverse the population growth in desert regions of the U.S.

[Bitwit1234]

8. Only one of the lakes, Lake Michigan

is completely in the United States, the rest borders are shared with Canada.

[Tyler Durden]

12. As part of the basin, Lake Michigan is part of the treaty.

No offense, but even if there were no treaty with Canada, the water is not going South. It's really nothing personal, it's just and incredibly stupid idea.

Again, no offense, but desert climates shouldn't be locations for cities and orange groves.

[MichiganVote]

9. Uh...its not like the Great lakes are a faucet. Michigan suffered from a drought this summer too.

Moreover, the Great Lakes are in use by not only a number of states already but by another country. The lakes are a key feature of shipping. So the idea that the lakes are available for retiree golf courses and maintaining the lawns of the rich and selfish is ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that after years of pollution in and around the midwest waterways combined with next to nothing in clean up funds its not as if we'd be moving a mountain spring.

Might as well try to tap into European waters as look in the direction of the Great Lakes. Its about that practical.

[raccoon]

15. I know what you're saying. I'd never have thought we in the Southeast would have a water

shortage--thought that was the Western states' problem.

Well, guess what....

SC is already squabbling with NC about water from the Catawba River.

[raccoon]

10. Kick. nt

[Tyler Durden]

11. BY TREATY WITH CANADA...

NOTHING can be pulled from the GREAT LAKES BASIN (includes all of the Great Lakes INCLUDING the entire St. Lawrence Seaway) without the approval of all the bordering states AND Canada.

The Great Lakes Basin ONLY gets flow from the basin and precipitation. What you take physically out, never comes back.

I hate to disillusion Gov. Richards, but pipelines from the Lakes to other areas of the United States will be built when porcine mammals sprout wings from their backs, jet engines from their asses, and they start shooting take offs and landings on the flight deck of the USS NIMITZ.

I'm sorry if this bursts any bubbles, but I wouldn't hold my breath for water to flow down the pipe.

[nonconformist]

14. Aww, it's dry in the desert

Who'd have thunk it?

Thankfully, this will NEVER happen. I know that Michigan, for one, will never agree to it.

[OzarkDem]

16. Richardson is a buffoon

His tenure at DOE under Clinton and all the ensuing mistakes was more than enough proof Richardson isn't qualified for dogcatcher, let alone chief executive. These comments are just further proof of someone who is too lazy to come up with real solutions.

[OzarkDem]

17. Those living in deserts and dry areas

have to learn to live with a sustainable eco-system, IOW, learn to live with the water you have.

[ellie]

20. That wasn't a very positive article

It basically said that the federal government will take what it wants and that the regional pact has to go through Congress. I was out in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago and I just don't understand the thinking out there. Golf courses? Swimming pools? What is the point? It's the desert! It's supposed to be hot and dry.

[marmar]

21. Hands off!

With all due respect to Mr. Richardson, when you build sprawling cities in the DESERT, you're bound to have water supply issues.