I've been an Ohio resident for just over 5 years now. I don't have a good grasp on the history of the Great Lakes restoration effort but I do know that there have been a number of incarnations of plans to restore the lakes. Yesterday's Columbus Dispatch (subscription required) describes a bit of the history and the next plan to emerge from the President's Great Lakes Taskforce:
The latest:
The recommendations of the task force, which included Ohio Gov. Bob Taft among its five members, seem to promise a lot but will cost a lot. The plan cites a need to spend $20 billion over a number of years in federal, state, local and private money to modernize waste-treatment systems and to restore wetlands and other vital habitat. Recommendations include more-stringent measures to stop ocean vessels from discharging aquatic invasive species into the lakes through ballast.
Previous plans:
- The Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Act authorizes the spending of $100 million annually for projects. Appropriated for fiscal year 2006 is $375,000.
- The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act authorizes $8 million each year be spent for local programs and projects through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In fiscal year 2006, the actual appropriation is $1.27 million in base funding and $500,000 for grants.
- The Great Lakes Legacy Act, authorizing $50 million annually for contamination cleanup, was appropriated $30 million this year.
The catch:
In a report to President Bush, members of the task force said they don’t support new funding to implement their recommendations. Instead, they insist that money already available should be reallocated to the areas of need that the task force identified.
"The federal government strongly believes that this strategy should focus on what can be accomplished within current budget projections," the report says.
Ummm...yeah, given 1,2 and 3, I'm sure that'll work [sarc level one--the obvious kind].
