Sustaining the Waterbelt of North America
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Transcript Sustaining the Waterbelt of North America
Sustaining the
Waters of
North America
Todd Ambs
President, River Network
October 18, 2010
Wisconsin Water Resources
15,000
lakes
84,000 miles of rivers
5.3 million acres of
wetlands
1,000 miles of great lakes
shoreline
Groundwater resources–
100 feet deep
We have a responsibility to
future generations
“The ultimate test of a
persons conscience may
be the willingness to
sacrifice something
today for future
generations whose
words of thanks will
never be heard.”
Gaylord Nelson
A Watershed Time for Great
Lake’s Waters
Great Lakes
20% of world fresh surface
water
National and international
resource
Critical resource for
economy, recreation and
environment
Vast region of
interconnected fresh surface
water
8 Great Lakes States and 2
Provinces
Agreement Significance
Ten jurisdictions across international
boundaries agreeing to manage largest surface
freshwater resource in the world collectively.
First multi-jurisdictional agreement of this
magnitude in the world.
Compact Fundamentals
Monitoring and reporting
Water conservation
Management of in basin
water use
Withdrawal
Consumptive Use
Prohibition on diversions
Straddling community/county
exceptions
Water Conservation
Tiered program with
increasing
requirements
Voluntary to greatest
rigor
Out of basin, in basin,
straddling
community/county,
large water losses
Details in rulemaking
Diversions
Applications must be
consistent with water
supply service area
plan
Meet decision making
standard
Straddling community
and county requests
likely coming
Watershed Approach
The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary
of the environment.
Gaylord Nelson
Eighty percent
of life is
showing up.
Woody Allen