It's not from a lack of trying Dave. And boy do I get that. It's been 20 years and I still haven't seen a septic code for Michigan. But we keep at it. My nitrate battle is with riparians who love their suburban lawns and think using "lake safe" fertilizer is a good thing. I can't get them to understand that this stuff still contains nitrates that will get into the lake. No such thing as lake safe fertilizer.
This is an important wakeup call. Much progress was made to control phosphates in years past, but we shouldn’t be lulled into complacency—as you so correctly point out, there are other concerns and there is more work to be done!
Your graph notation makes an important point: Michigan doesn't have enough data to create a meaningful graph. Why is that? You have every right to be angry.
Hi Dave, I checked "other" which includes we are overwhelmed by poor accountability and deregulation. The Clean Water Act was recently gutted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in charge of it (HR3898). That in itself is outrageous. This Committee regards clean water as an obstacle to transportation, infrastructure and to freely dumping toxic waste. Google "Great Lakes Cheese, Cattaraugus Co. NY" or "Ischua Creek" or "Mackenzie Shuman" for good reporting on this. Thanks to her and you for your good work!
Interesting article. Will have to go back and re-read it and also examine what's happening with agriculture in regard to preventing run-offs of fertilizers and manure into waterways.
Ditto what the other commenters say: being angry is reasonable but you’ve done everything that can be expected. Big ag has a stranglehold on Michigan - Schuette’s quote is the mantra for the industry. Agriculture is so important to Michigan but it gets a pass too often. Thanks Dave!
It's not from a lack of trying Dave. And boy do I get that. It's been 20 years and I still haven't seen a septic code for Michigan. But we keep at it. My nitrate battle is with riparians who love their suburban lawns and think using "lake safe" fertilizer is a good thing. I can't get them to understand that this stuff still contains nitrates that will get into the lake. No such thing as lake safe fertilizer.
This is an important wakeup call. Much progress was made to control phosphates in years past, but we shouldn’t be lulled into complacency—as you so correctly point out, there are other concerns and there is more work to be done!
Your graph notation makes an important point: Michigan doesn't have enough data to create a meaningful graph. Why is that? You have every right to be angry.
Hi Dave, I checked "other" which includes we are overwhelmed by poor accountability and deregulation. The Clean Water Act was recently gutted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in charge of it (HR3898). That in itself is outrageous. This Committee regards clean water as an obstacle to transportation, infrastructure and to freely dumping toxic waste. Google "Great Lakes Cheese, Cattaraugus Co. NY" or "Ischua Creek" or "Mackenzie Shuman" for good reporting on this. Thanks to her and you for your good work!
Interesting article. Will have to go back and re-read it and also examine what's happening with agriculture in regard to preventing run-offs of fertilizers and manure into waterways.
Ditto what the other commenters say: being angry is reasonable but you’ve done everything that can be expected. Big ag has a stranglehold on Michigan - Schuette’s quote is the mantra for the industry. Agriculture is so important to Michigan but it gets a pass too often. Thanks Dave!
Thank you for your steadfast commitment to these vital issues, Dave. Your courage and persistence is very important.