Great Lakes Article:

Resolution urges Congress to appropriate money for clean-up of Saginaw Bay
By Jeff Kart
The Bay City Times
Published June 2, 2007

One of the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes - also known as Saginaw Bay - may get some much needed federal help.

A resolution urging Congress to appropriate $520,000 for cleanup and other activities in the bay passed a state Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City.

''The Saginaw Bay has been identified as one of the worst environmental problem areas in the Great Lakes,'' Barcia said in testimony before the committee.

''Excessive nutrient inputs, toxic contaminants, sewage overflows and sedimentation have produced nuisance algae, muck, loss of fishery habitat and out of control invasive vegetation growth.

''The results have been a diminished quality of life for area residents and business and a threat to a vital freshwater resource for over 500,000 people.''

Barcia, a former Congressman, is working with U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint, to secure the federal funding that would go to the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative, a regional group organized by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The resolution means the Michigan Legislature is formally urging Congress to take action to help the bay by providing funding to the initiative, which has been working to address a host of problems since August 2006.

''We can only meet for so long without money,'' Barcia said.

The resolution, with a dozen bipartisan co-sponsors, is expected to pass the full Senate next week and then the House, a Barcia spokesman said.

The DEQ may provide matching dollars, but spokesman Robert McCann didn't have details Wednesday afternoon.

In testimony before the committee, Barcia said the $520,000 in federal money would go to promote regional tourism, fund a pilot project to identify the sources of algae and E. coli bacteria washing up along shorelines, protect and restore high quality wetlands, control invasive phragmite plants, assist with dredging costs, restore the Saginaw River corridor and launch a voluntary effort to reduce phosphorous loading to the bay.

''The public health and safety of these residents and the economic vitality of local communities are threatened by the ongoing environmental problems facing Saginaw Bay,'' Barcia's resolution reads.

''Increased coordination and partnerships with local leaders and citizens directly affected by Saginaw Bay's health are needed to restore the bay and realize its full potential as a vibrant coastal area.''

- Jeff Kart covers the environment and politics for The Times. He can be reached at 894-9639 or by e-mail at jkart@bc-times.com.