Comments on: Gathering for the Great Lakes http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/gathering-for-the-great-lakes/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:40:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Noah Hall http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/gathering-for-the-great-lakes/#comment-4452 Noah Hall Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:32:18 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/gathering-for-the-great-lakes/#comment-4452 First, thanks for the post and link to my article explaining the proposed Great Lakes compact. As the original article appeared in an academic law review, my guess is that your post easily tripled the previous readership which consisted of (1) my wife; (2) water wonks; and (3) students required to read it for a water law course. Second, I'm sorry be an annoying fact checker, but Phil's excellent story "Gathering for the Great Lakes" (January 17, 2008) had a minor but potentially offending error. It states: "Seven states border the Lakes, each with its own parochial interests and political posturings. With Ontario, a province of Canada, and you've added an international dimension." The Great Lakes are shared by eight states, not seven (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York) and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Quebec, which has a unique position on the gateway to Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence). I fully agree that each state (even Michigan) has "its own parochial interests and political posturings." Please don't be offended by my minor corrections. I'm a tremendous supporter of your work and what you are accomplishing. I recently turned down an opportunity to move back to Minnesota (where my wife and I lived for five years after leaving Michigan the first time) and take a better paying job at a better funded university. In deciding to stay, my wife and I recommitted ourselves to being a small part of Michigan's future. She is continuing to work on smart growth on various Ann Arbor commissions; I'm launching the new Great Lakes Environmental Law Center. Your newsletter keeps us energized and informed. Thanks, First, thanks for the post and link to my article explaining the proposed Great Lakes compact. As the original article appeared in an academic law review, my guess is that your post easily tripled the previous readership which consisted of (1) my wife; (2) water wonks; and (3) students required to read it for a water law course.

Second, I'm sorry be an annoying fact checker, but Phil's excellent story "Gathering for the Great Lakes" (January 17, 2008) had a minor but potentially offending error. It states: "Seven states border the Lakes, each with its own parochial interests and political posturings. With Ontario, a province of Canada, and you've added an international dimension." The Great Lakes are shared by eight states, not seven (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York) and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Quebec, which has a unique position on the gateway to Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence). I fully agree that each state (even Michigan) has "its own parochial interests and political posturings."

Please don't be offended by my minor corrections. I'm a tremendous supporter of your work and what you are accomplishing. I recently turned down an opportunity to move back to Minnesota (where my wife and I lived for five years after leaving Michigan the first time) and take a better paying job at a better funded university. In deciding to stay, my wife and I recommitted ourselves to being a small part of Michigan's future. She is continuing to work on smart growth on various Ann Arbor commissions; I'm launching the new Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

Your newsletter keeps us energized and informed. Thanks,

]]> By: Eunice Burns http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/gathering-for-the-great-lakes/#comment-4298 Eunice Burns Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:36:56 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/gathering-for-the-great-lakes/#comment-4298 I am all for as much participation as possible in keeping our Great Lakes healthy. But, while a big "umbrella" organization is good, let us not forget the smaller groups who are also working in their own small way. I am a member of the Huron River Watershed Council. Many years ago, I wanted to make an impact so I thought I would join some body that protected the oceans. As I thought it through, I decided that there would be more of an opportunity to do something if I helped locally. After all, the health of our watershed contributed to the health of Lake Erie, which contributed to the health of Lake Ontario, which contributed to the health of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which contributed to the health of the Atlantic Ocean, etc. Anyhow, let us not lose sight of the fact that we need more people to understand and help individually as well as collectively. I am all for as much participation as possible in keeping our Great Lakes healthy. But, while a big "umbrella" organization is good, let us not forget the smaller groups who are also working in their own small way.
I am a member of the Huron River Watershed Council. Many years ago, I wanted to make an impact so I thought I would join some body that protected the oceans. As I thought it through, I decided that there would be more of an opportunity to do something if I helped locally. After all, the health of our watershed contributed to the health of Lake Erie, which contributed to the health of Lake Ontario, which contributed to the health of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which contributed to the health of the Atlantic Ocean, etc.
Anyhow, let us not lose sight of the fact that we need more people to understand and help individually as well as collectively.

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