Great Lakes Article:

Cass: Protect Great Lakes water from diversion
Dowagiac Daily News
Published April 21, 2008

CASSOPOLIS - Cass County commissioners adopted a resolution April 17 for the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact to guard against diversion.

"This risk is increasing as water shortages become more acute and the parties that oppose ceding control of the waters of the (St. Lawrence River) Basin to the Great Lakes states and provinces become more powerful," states Resolution 52 of 2008 offered by Commissioner Debbie Johnson, D-Niles.

"This resource can only be protected by joint agreement and action by the eight states, including Michigan, and the two Canadian provinces that are wholly or partially within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin."

The compact will require congressional approval and a treaty with Canada.

Nearly identical bills required to implement the compact have already been introduced in Michigan's House and Senate.

"Be it resolved that the Cass County Board of Commissioners urges the Legislature, in the strongest possible terms, to ratify the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact without further delay."