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Doyle signs Great Lakes Compact

Anita Weier  —  5/27/2008 10:09 am

Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday signed a bipartisan Great Lakes Compact that is meant to protect the lakes, especially from raids by arid southwestern states.

"This historic accord means that we will be managing our Great Lakes water in a sustainable way that will protect one of the world's greatest natural resources," Doyle said during ceremonies in Milwaukee attended by business and environmental leaders.

The compact was endorsed by Doyle, seven other Great Lakes governors and two Canadian premiers in 2005, but the state's legislatures also had to approve it. Four other states have ratified the compact, but three remain, and Congress still has to approve the overall agreement.

Under the compact, any of the eight governors can veto diversions to areas outside the Great Lakes Basin. In Wisconsin, the Lake Michigan part of the basin is in the eastern third of the state, and the Lake Superior portion is in the far north.

Communities that request water diversions would have to have strict water conservation measures in place and return waste water to the lakes in equal or better condition.

The Great Lakes provide an important economic advantage for the Midwest, generating $55 billion in tourism and nearly $377 million in wages and salaries, according to Doyle's office.

Wisconsin legislators took months to negotiate the compact, but ultimately approved it in May with only one negative vote in the Senate and one negative vote in the Assembly.

The Wisconsin law includes provisions that would protect water even if Congress does not act. Midwesterners fear that members of the U.S. House and Senate from drier states might sabotage the compact.

Doyle thanked Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona; Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn; Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee; Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine; and Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, for their work on the bill.

Anita Weier  —  5/27/2008 10:09 am