In July 2008, the Michigan legislature approved the Great Lakes Compact (pdf) and related Michigan water bills and the Governor signed the bills into law. While the final deal fell far short of everything we wanted, Clean Water Action supported the agreement with the understanding we would continue fighting for stronger protections in the coming months.

Clean Water Action members, volunteers and staff had a major impact on the outcome of this debate by weighing in with more than 30,000 letters, over 1,000 phone calls to lawmakers, 5,000-plus lawmaker emails, town hall meetings in targeted communities, and lobbying in Lansing and at home. Further, we also played a key role in building the Great Lakes, Great Michigan Coalition which was comprised of more than 60 diverse organizations.

State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) led the negotiations for the House and pushed tirelessly for our strong protections. Unfortunately, her efforts were met with stiff opposition from her counterpart, Senator Patty Birkholz who opposed stronger protection including a measure requiring the state to consider the public interest - your interest - in permitting large water withdrawals.

The good news is that Senator Birkholz's time in the legislature is limited; she will be on her way out in 2010. In the meantime, Clean Water Action will continue building the momentum to ensure our waters remain public resources and not private investments for international corporations. We will ultimately prevail by deepening the public's understanding of what's at stake, by recruiting and supporting candidates who will protect our waters, and by holding lawmakers accountable for their actions.

Please take action today by supporting Clean Water Action's ongoing work to keep Michigan's water public! Please, please don't delay.

Michigan's waters are our most prized asset and we must do all we can to ensure they are public resources not private investments for international corporations. So please keep the momentum going for this critical campaign.