April 7, 2008

Local governments in the United States and Canada invest an estimated $15 billion annually to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, according to a report recently released by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) and the Great Lakes Commission (GLC). “This study makes it clear that there is a growing movement that recognizes the need for long-term funding for Great Lakes protection and restoration, but it also suggests that we need to do more,” said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, founding U.S. Chair of GLSLCI. “All our cities desperately need significant funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, but it’s still not on the radar of the national government and it’s time for them to step up and help protect this precious natural resource.”

As a source of drinking water, food, transportation, water for industry, agriculture and recreation, the value and importance of the Great Lakes'st. Lawrence freshwater system are immeasurable. The system, however, faces numerous threats, including toxic pollution, contaminated beaches, invasive species and lost wetlands. Restoring from past damage, reducing ongoing contamination, and preventing future problems all must be considered high priorities if the resource is to retain its value in the future.

To better understand the current level of commitment to the resource, GLSLCI and GLC partnered in 2007, with funding from the Joyce Foundation, to determine how much local governments spend on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence protection and restoration activities. Surveys were sent to 688 local governments and 143 responded. In 2006, these 143 local governments reported investing almost $3.3 billion from local sources to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence basin ecosystem. Extrapolating this data to all 688 local governments across the basin, the estimated annual local investment is well over $15 billion, with $12 billion for water quality management, like wastewater systems operation, maintenance and infrastructure, and $3 billion for ecosystem protection.

Given the regional, national, international and global significance of the resource and its increasing value, it would be reasonable to expect a similarly major financial commitment by all orders of government. Unfortunately, the trend appears to be otherwise, particularly at the federal level. Since 2004, for example, U.S. federal funding under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for wastewater infrastructure has decreased by 49 percent and additional cuts are proposed for 2009. “We all share the responsibility for this resource,” said Racine Mayor Gary Becker, current GLSLCI chair. “How can it be that U.S. and Canadian local governments spend an estimated $12 billion a year on crucial water and wastewater systems and operations that help keep the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence waters protected and our federal governments cannot even fund $1 billion for these critical systems in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin? Any future federal cuts for wastewater infrastructure are totally unacceptable.” The federal investment deficit for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ecosystem is particularly disturbing in light of the international commitments and legal obligations to protect the resource, as well as statistics showing the magnitude of investment needed.

Even the multi-billion dollar annual investment by local governments in wastewater infrastructure and operations is not keeping up with the real need. A report released in January by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documents an almost $206 billion need for clean water infrastructure across the United States, of which about $73 billion can be attributed to the eight Great Lakes states. Cost estimates from the 2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy were more than $20 billion for a five to ten-year period, including $13.7 billion identified for wastewater management infrastructure. When infrastructure is not maintained adequately and replaced in a timely manner, the deficit grows larger and the resource suffers.

The major investments by local governments and the increasing shortfall in wastewater infrastructure spending at the federal level indicate the significant need for further action:

• Increase commitment by all orders of government to eliminate the deficit and fully protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence.

• Significantly increase investment from federal governments for wastewater treatment infrastructure.

• Determine fair and appropriate allocations for investment at each level of government.

The priorities of people as reflected by their governments should be a guide for how funds are invested. It is time for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin ecosystem to receive the priority attention and investment it deserves as the premier freshwater ecosystem in the world.

To read more about the investment study, visit www.glslcities.org/glinvestment.htm.