water thoughts in Wisconsin and Michigan

An advocate challenges Michigan's House to shun special interests and legislate for long-term water protection this week:

Today, the Michigan House has a chance to lead Michigan into a more secure water future. The House should approve bills reported out by its Great Lakes and Environment Committee that provide another degree of protection against overuse of our rivers, lakes and streams while ensuring the public maintains control of our water.

And Wisconsin interests reflect on the newly-ratified Great Lakes compact:

Marvin Defoe of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa compares Lake Superior's life-giving properties to the amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn child in a mother's womb.

"That's how precious that water is, and we have to be careful with it," said Defoe, who also serves as a councilman for his tribe. "And through that nurturing, it provides life, life to whatever lives around the water. The lake holds no biases toward who is to protect it, and holds no bias to who drinks it."