The Sweetwater Seas are quite the topic of discussion in Congress these days. Three proposed laws are currently being considered to help better protect the Great Lakes from pollution and invasive species.
The Great Lakes Water Protection Act was proposed to address sewer overflow issues that cause dirty water to spill into the lakes. The bill would mandate standard methods for communicating sewer overflows so reports could be done in a timely manner.
Another bill, the Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act, was proposed to speed up the federal government’s review process on whether to ban certain importations of animals and plants to prevent species like Asian carp from entering our waters.
The third and final bill is the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act. This bill would authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, an Obama Administration program that addresses Great Lakes pollution, invasive species and restoring wetlands, among other programs.
For more information, visit healthylakes.org.
