League of Women Voters of Duluth
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • LWV Duluth Board >
      • Upcoming Board Meeting Agenda
      • Board Meeting Minutes
    • LWV Duluth Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
    • LWV: Minnesota & US
    • History of League of Women Voters Dulutlh
    • Policy, Program, Positions >
      • Nonpartisan Policy
      • LWV Duluth Program
      • LWV State Positions
  • Membership
    • Join
    • New Member Meet & Greet
    • For More Information About Membership
  • Events & Newsletter
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
    • Recordings of LWV Events
    • June 11 - Annual Plant and Book Sale
    • May 12, 2022 - Annual Meeting
    • April 20 - It's Not Easy Being Green!
    • April 12 - How Duluth is Addressing a Shortage of Affordable Housing
    • April 6, 2022: Women of Influence
    • March 15 - Medical Aid in Dying
    • February 24 - Redlining in Duluth. It Happened Here
    • January 28, 2022- Citizens in Action Virtual Workshop
    • January 23, 2022- Legislative Roundtable
    • January 19, 2022- Medical Aid in Dying
    • January 11, 2022- Judicial Selection and Elections via Zoom
    • January 6, 2022- We the People January 6 Day of Remembrance and Action Duluth News Tribune
    • January 6, 2022- We the People January 6 Day of Remembrance and Action
    • Dec. 14, 2021: Sandy Hook Vigil
    • December 2 - The Status of Copper Nickel Sulfide Mining in Minnesota
    • November 16, 2021: Voting Rights
    • September 22, 2021 - LWV Duluth Fall Kick-Off
    • Events September 2020- July 2021 >
      • June 12 - Annual Plant and Book Sale
      • May 27, 2021 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • May 6, 2021 - Annual Meeting
      • April 29, 2021: Minnesota’s Racial Justice Report
      • April 15, 2021: Minnesota’s Failing Grade on Climate Action
      • March 25, 2021 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • March 20, 2021: A Good Time for the Truth
      • February 25, 2021: Women of Influence
      • February 20, 2021: A Good Time for the Truth
      • January 29, 2021 - Citizens in Action
      • January 28, 2021 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • January 14, 2021 - "Overview of the St. Louis River Area of Concern"
      • January 3, 2021 - Legislative Roundtable
      • November 19, 2020 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • October 28, 2020 - Talon Copper-Nickel Mining Threat
      • September 24, 2020 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • September 16, 2020 - LWV Duluth Fall Kick-Off
    • Census 2020
    • Events September 2019- July 2020 >
      • September 18 - LWV Duluth Fall Kick-Off
      • September 26, 2019 - LWV Duluth "The Sister" Book Club
      • October 26 - 100th Birthday "First Night" Gala
      • November 14, 2019 - LWV Duluth "The Sister" Book Club
      • December 12, 2019 - LWV Duluth Holiday Social
      • December 13 - Reflect and Act: A Community Gathering
      • January 23, 2020 - LWV Duluth "The Sister" Book Club
      • January 25, 2020- Citizens in Action Workshop
      • February 2, 2020 - Legislative Roundtable
      • February 13, 2020: Women of Influence
      • CANCELLED - March 18, 2020 - One Word: Plastics!
      • CANCELLED - March 19, 2020 - LWV Duluth "The Sister" Book Club
      • POSTPONED - Equali-TEA March 28, 2020
      • Electronic Annual Meeting
      • May 21, 2020 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
      • July 15, 2020 - Zoom 2020 Voter Services Organizational Meeting
      • July 23, 2020 - Zoom LWV Duluth "The Sisters" Book Club
    • Past Events: 2018-19
    • Past Events: 2017-18
    • Past Events: 2016-17
  • Local Committees/Groups
    • Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee
    • Environmental Action Committee
    • International Relations Committee
    • Program Committee and Advocacy Action Team
    • Observer Corps Reports
    • "The Sisters" Book Club
  • Voting
    • 2021 Candidate Forum Recordings
    • Redistricting
    • 2021 Voter Registration Training
    • National and State Elected Officials
    • County Elected officials
    • City Government
    • Duluth School Board
                                                                     IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING ON GREAT LAKES WATER!
                                                Minnesota DNR to host listening session about Lake Michigan water diversion proposal
                                                                                              Thursday, March 3
                                                                                    Duluth Holiday Inn and Suites



Why is this Listening Session of Concern to LWV Duluth???
 
What does a proposal to divert water from Lake Michigan to the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin have to do with us in the Duluth area?  A lot, it turns out! 

WHAT is the issue?
The city of Waukesha is seeking an exception from the prohibition on diversions of Great Lakes water outside the water basin. Minnesota is a signatory to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which governs Great Lakes water use among the eight Great Lakes states. The city of Waukesha is asking to divert an annual average of 10.1 million gallons per day from Lake Michigan. Most of this water would be returned to the basin following treatment. Waukesha now relies on a well system, and is proposing to shift to water from Lake Michigan. The area’s groundwater is high in naturally occurring radium.

WHO will make the decision about whether to grant the exception?
Staff from the Minnesota DNR and other state agencies are currently reviewing specific parts of the technical review document and the project application as it pertains to their areas of expertise. 
 
HOW does diversion relate to us as a community on Lake Superior?
Waukesha’s request is the first one since the Compact has been in place, and thus it will set a precedent for future diversion requests and it is critical that the request be held to the high standard in the Compact. There is considerable concern about whether or not Waukesha’s request meets that standard, so it’s important that we all be paying close attention. This is especially pertinent in a time of climate change and increased demand on potable water resources (including the Great Lakes).
 
WHAT is the role of LWV Duluth?
In the past, LWV- Duluth members were engaged with the passage of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact in 2008.  The Great Lakes Compact doesn’t forbid any diversions, but it puts stringent criteria in place for who can request them and how the diversion is to be handled. One of the criteria is approval by all the other Great Lakes states governors and the Canadian premieres who are also signatories to the agreement. This is our opportunity to communicate with both our governor and state agencies about concerns related to this proposal.
 
WHEN is the listening session about this issue?
The session will be held Thursday, March 3, at the Duluth Holiday Inn and Suites Downtown, located at 200 W. First St. Input gathered will help the state formulate its position on the proposed project.  The March 3 DNR listening session in Duluth will include an open house from 5 to 6 p.m., with the opportunity to review related documents and talk with DNR staff. At 6 p.m., there will be a brief presentation describing the project, followed by a two-hour listening session. During the listening session, attendees will have an opportunity to share their perspectives on the proposal


If you can’t attend the March 3, 2016 listening session, you can review information and submit public comments on the application through March 14 on the Compact Council’s Waukesha Diversion Web page :www.waukeshadiversion.org/. Comments must be submitted to the Compact Council to be part of the official record on which the Council will ultimately be basing its decision on the Waukesha proposal.