Great Ships Initiative Briefing PaperBackground: Currently, procedures in place today appear to remove about 95 percent of invasive species in the Great Lakes. However, it appears that removal of 99.9 percent of invasive species is necessary to curtail the overpopulation that can affect water treatment plants in addition to many other water-related activities. Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently announced additional permit systems that apply to all ships loading or unloading in Michigan ports, starting next year. The other Great Lakes states must follow suit in order to have an impact on reducing the growth and importation of invasive species into the Great Lakes. In addition, invasive species can spread to other surface waters from the Great Lakes. AWWA members should be interested in the issue since invasive species have affected drinking water plants and their ability to effectively take water out of the Great Lakes. Action: The EQSC reports that “IDEM and the administration should continue to work with other Great Lakes states on the ballast water issue to reach a regional solution.” Please encourage your legislator to support the development of guidelines and filtration systems for the exchange of ballast water. For more information: Great Lakes Commission support Northeast-Midwest Institute’s scoping report Ports of Indiana news release, July 12, 2006 American Great Lakes Ports Association support
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