Milwaukee Rising?

John Cooper: sunrise over commercial fish boats in Erieau, Lake Erie ~Enlarge

Thunder Bay, Duluth, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Rochester!

Great cities that border on the Great Lakes.

These cities benefit from their proximity to the Lakes and conversely, have a tremendous impact on the bodies of water they border.

As water continues to be a major story while we move well into the 21st century, which city will lead the way by putting a spotlight on water issues and by taking action with good management practices?

It may be too soon to tell but how about Milwaukee?

That's right, the beer capital and home of Harley-Davidson is doing more than carving out a niche, it's threatening to be the regional leader.

Here's what I mean.

The University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee campus is home to the Great Lakes Water Institute which bills itself as "the largest academic freshwater research facility on the Great Lakes." Research and education are its prime focus, both critical disciplines in the water age.

The International Joint Commission, the U.S. and Canadian body that advises the two governments on boundary water issues, just cited Milwaukee (and Toronto) as a "success story" for its wastewater management and acknowledged its "well-designed and long-term plans."

Milwaukee's daily newspaper, the Journal-Sentinel, has dedicated significant resources to Great Lakes coverage. This in a difficult period where most papers are scaling back on environmental reporting.

Its periodic Great Lakes, Great Peril series examines the issues in what it calls "the century of water." Reporter Dan Egan goes in depth to cover the Great Lakes and takes on a few sacred cows on the way. Or, you could read detailed local reports like the recent Lee Berquist article on the cleanup of the Fox River. Here's hoping the editors continue to support coverage of the Lakes.

Water conferences?

Milwaukee may be the Great Lakes capital for conferences and events.

Milwaukee has hosted the International Joint Commission's biennial meeting and the historic Great Lakes Compact was signed in Milwaukee.  The Healing Our Waters Coalition held its annual Great Lakes Restoration meeting there in 2008 and Great Lakes mayors are scheduled for 2010.

Last week there was a State of Lake Michigan event and the annual Areas of Concern (toxic hotspots) conference was hosted by the Great Lakes Commission in conjunction with the EPA.

One I'm looking forward to in late October is the Craft Brew Water Conservation meeting. Craft brewers from around the region and country are gathering to discuss ways they can conserve water while making great beer. Milwaukee's MillerCoors is the lead sponsor for this event via its Leinenkugel craft beer brand.

Conferences and special events come and go and the best measure of water leadership will be if Milwaukee sets a high standard for stewardship, and then sustains the effort.

Wisconsin and Milwaukee have their water issues and disagreements to be sure.

They're on the point related to the first diversion requests of Lake Michigan water based on the Great Lakes Compact. At its core, the Compact only provides a framework for conservation, leaving it up to the states to fill-in the blanks.

Everyone is watching so they need a defined and transparent process, which some say is currently lacking. They also need to get this right as precedent may be set for the rest of the region.

Milwaukee's desire to be a leader is clear and that's good for the region.

It isn't important that a single Great Lakes city wins a water stewardship race. It is important that all Great Lakes cities join the effort to conserve water and develop good water management practices.

We all win when that happens.

gw

For more information on Great Lakes cities and their water conservation and restoration plans go to: http://www.glslcities.org/aboutus.htm  

For more information about the craft brew water conference go to: http://www.conserve-greatlakes.com/