When We Can See the Anchor

8/20/2018

Photo taken off the shores of South Manitou Island

This week’s question is framed by a favorite scientist who is working tirelessly, watershed by watershed, to improve the quality of water along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. His question to elected leaders and candidates gives me pause, as I hope it will you . . .

The McKSchmidt Questions: Week 4

A Grassroots Effort to Prioritize Water

Question: Are you aware that Lake Michigan is infested with trillions of the non-native quagga mussels, which have basically replaced the non-native zebra mussels, and are dramatically changing the Lake’s food web and energy flow? As a consequence, Lake Michigan is now clearer than Lake Superior. Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?

Lack of Response to Week 3:
The lack of response to Week 3's question about reducing the algae blooms caused primarily by agricultural runoff is troubling. Of the 13 representatives and candidates contacted, only one answered the question. I find myself wondering . . . why? See the McKSchmidt Questions.

3 Comments

Eric Stemle

8/20/2018 06:45:14 pm

OK, so during my pause, I looked it up. Sometimes clarity isn't a good thing! Like the quagga mussel, the scientist's question serves to filter out those leaders and candidates who lack an understanding or even an interest in the ecosystem of the lakes. Not that it solves the problem, but it does serve notice of the need for us to be informed and involved!

Emilie Vardaman link

8/20/2018 07:27:30 pm

We desperately need real leadership on the community, Lundy, state and national levels. Currently, we are broken on each of those levels.

Arizona leadership loves big business, and be.ieve it or not, will not pass laws to regulate water usage. The so-called leaders in Phoenix, where they get an average of just over eight inches of rain yearly, wants to allow a WATER BOTTLING plant to open and draw millions of gallons. The. Punts where I live (Cochise) allows corporate farming of things like pecans. Each well on the farms pumps over 1000 gallons a minute, and some farms have quite a few wells.
Local wells belonging to small farmers and rural homeowners are drying up fast.
It’s all so insane! Letters, yes, calls to current representatives, yes, and be sure to contact those who are running for office.

Mary Ellen Miller

8/20/2018 08:18:16 pm

Unless people have been doing their homework (see Eric Stemle above) most will probably see clear water as a good thing. It will be interesting to monitor the responses you receive. Keep up the good work, Mary!

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