For our Great Lakes Month in Review, we update a pair of November’s top stories: Nestlé's request for more groundwater from Mecosta County and Michigan’s declaration of Lake Erie as “impaired.”
In November, Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality has been in the news over two high-profile water issues.
First, the DEQ declared Michigan’s portion of Lake Erie “impaired,” because of nutrient runoff that leads to harmful algae blooms. An official “impaired” status can be the first step toward tighter controls of agriculture runoff; something farmers have resisted.
The agency is also dealing with Nestlé Waters’ request to increase the groundwater it takes for bottled water. This has long been a controversial issue in Michigan.
Current State talks with Great Lakes reporter and commentator Gary Wilson.
Current State reports on Michigan’s environment every Tuesday. Our segments, and others about the Great Lakes environment, can be found at GreatLakesEcho.org and at wkar.org.