Great Lakes Article:

To save the lakes, join the campaign
By Eric Sharp
Detroit Free Press
Published June 28, 2007

Many people have asked how they can help stem the tide of invasive species arriving in the ballast water of saltwater ships that are threatening to destroy the last vestiges of the native ecology of the Great Lakes.

Until now, there wasn't much to tell them other than to keep hammering at U.S. senators and representatives to pass effective ballast-control laws. But recently, a coalition of conservation groups filed a lawsuit that would force transoceanic ships to be equipped with systems to sterilize or seal off ballast water before entering inland waters. We can help the effort by providing financial and moral support.

"People can contribute money, but it's more important to participate in your democracy and make your opinions known," said National Wildlife Federation spokesman Jordan Lubetkin. "Write your senators and representatives in Congress. Pick up the phone and call them. Write a letter to the local newspaper. Tell your friends and neighbors about the issue.

"Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin will be swing states in the next (presidential) election, and all the candidates will make trips through them. Go to where they are appearing and ask what they intend to do to help the Great Lakes and stop invasive species."

In an earlier lawsuit, a federal district court ruled that the Clean Water Act regulated ships' ballast water, even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency argued against that position in court.

With no prospect of support from the EPA, the NWF and five state groups, including the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, filed a suit last week against five shipping companies.

If the conservation groups win, I wonder if shippers will spend millions to modify vessels so they can continue to ply the lakes, or if a new system develops to transfer cargoes from salties to lake freighters, trains and trucks.

Studies by economist John Taylor of Grand Valley State University show that if saltwater ships were banned from the Great Lakes, the cost to the economy would be about $55 million. But compare that with the $250 million or more a year we spend on zebra mussel control alone.

Taylor also found that only about $5 million in cargo is brought to Michigan ports by salties, but that includes Menominee, where cargo arrives for Wisconsin on the other side of the river.

How do you reconcile the supposed benefits of salties with estimated losses of more than $100 million a year to the Lake Huron tourism economy because damaging invasive species collapsed the food chain and decimated salmon fishing?

Lawsuits like this one are expensive, but Lubetkin said the NWF lawyers researched the Great Lakes issue and decided it should be a priority. If you want to help, visit the NWF Web site at www.nwf.org and click on the "donate now" bar. You can join the group for as little as $30 (you'll also get an NWF daypack). The Web site also has ways to make larger donations by telephone or credit card online.

God knows we can't expect any help from the EPA.