 Imagine your greatest public resource without any consistent laws to protect it. Unfortunately, there is no need to imagine – this is a reality of our Great Lakes.
Right now there are no consistent rules across the region governing the use of Great Lakes water. Without rules protecting Great Lakes water that everyone must follow, the Lakes are vulnerable to tankers and pipelines that would pump water away from the region, depleting the Lakes and diminishing our quality of life. This “anything goes” status quo leaves our region open to water shortages and lowered lake levels, leading to drinking water contamination and higher water rates, more beach closings, fewer opportunities to boat and fish with our families, and job losses in shipping, tourism, commercial fishing and other industries that depend on the Great Lakes.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Great Lakes–St Lawrence Basin Water Resources Compact establishes fair and consistent rules for responsible Great Lakes water use. The Compact will help us to sustain the Great Lakes – so they can continue to sustain us.
Ohio H.B. 416 - the Great Lakes Compact passed the Ohio House 90-3 February 19, 2008. Contact your Ohio Senator and urge him/her to introduce and support Ohio H.B. 416.
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