For those of us who know and love the great lakes, yesterday was a date to remember. Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator met with govenors of states that touch the great lakes to lay out a plan to clean up these Great Lakes. Congress has approved $475 million already for such efforts and President Obama has proposed an additional $300 million for the 2011 budget.
The Great Lakes hold 20% of the world's fresh water and provide drinking water for more than 30 million people. They also provide for endless hours of entertainment for boaters, swimmers, and fishermen. Yet, the Great Lakes have been ravaged by toxins, invasive species and overharvesting of native fish. The plan proposes to decrease the amounts of phosphorus run off, protection of wetland areas, and save species like the lake sturgeon. Environmental rules will be enforced and new ones will be created to ensure that generations to come will have better water quality than we do today.
Close to $60 million will be spent this year on stopping Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. This extremely invasive species could endanger the $7 billion sport fishing industry and alter the ecosystem of the lakes.
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