China Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Great Lakes near ecological breakdown: scientists By Andrew Stern CHICAGO (Reuters) - Stresses from polluted rivers to invasive species threaten to trigger an ecological breakdown in the Great Lakes, a group of scientists hoping to sway U.S. environmental policy said on Thursday. Seventy-five scientists who study the world's largest collective body of fresh water released their report on the myriad problems that need cleanup or restoration ahead of two key policy announcements next week. "This is just a critical period for the Great Lakes," Andy Buchsbaum, director of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes office, said about next week's announcements. A task force comprising federal agencies, Congress, local government officials and regional Indian tribes is scheduled to release its much-anticipated final plan for preserving the Great Lakes requested by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2004. The body's preliminary report in July recommended $20 billion in federal, state and private funding over 15 years to upgrade antiquated municipal sewer systems, restore 500,000 acres of wetlands, clean polluted harbors and bays, and pay for other efforts. But a federal oversight group subsequently suggested to the White House that the budget was too tight to allow additional funding. Federal spending on Great Lakes cleanup over the past decade was $800 million, according to the Government Accountability Office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 hmm I though everyone says Bush doesn't care about the environment :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Well...it was a pristine ecological system until Bush took office in 2000. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 There are also some real successes... like how clean Lake Erie is now compared to what it was in the 1970s when the Cuyahoga river caught on fire :doh: They are a national treasure though and I'm glad to see resources being applied towards cleaning them further and preserving them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted December 9, 2005 Author Share Posted December 9, 2005 There are also some real successes... like how clean Lake Erie is now compared to what it was in the 1970s when the Cuyahoga river caught on fire :doh:They are a national treasure though and I'm glad to see resources being applied towards cleaning them further and preserving them. Finally, someone who comments on the real topic of the thread and isn't looking to turn the thread into bashing Bush-bashers. Yes, it would be great if they could restore some of the natural ecosystems that have been destroyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Finally, someone who comments on the real topic of the thread and isn't looking to turn the thread into bashing Bush-bashers.Yes, it would be great if they could restore some of the natural ecosystems that have been destroyed. but it is fun i am glad they are cleaning up the lakes, it is a treasure if you have been to Ohio, Michigan, Pa etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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