Whether it was a simple misunderstanding, a slip of the tongue or a calculated statement of resource scheming, Democratic presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson made a serious mistake when he suggested the Great Lakes could help solve his thirsty state’s water crisis.
Richardson didn’t explicitly call out Michigan — he told the Las Vegas Sun on Oct. 4 that the nation needs dialogue among states to deal with issues like water delivery and conservation. Dialogue is great and is essential for democracy.
However, Richardson added that he wants a national water policy, and, “States like Wisconsin are awash in water.” Well, this state, very similar to Wisconsin in water resources, isn’t giving any water away without a fight.
Richardson retracted his comments nine days later, and a statement on his Web site explained that he “in no way proposes federal transfers of water from one region of the nation to another.” The retraction came after he received criticism from various environmental groups.
The Great Lakes states shouldn’t take this particular politically damaging slip of the tongue too seriously — Richardson’s chance of winning the 2008 presidential election, or even making it past the primaries, is slim.
However, his comments represent the consensus opinion of a growing number of people in the Southwest — an area known for extravagant displays of water wealth, such as lush golf courses, outdoor water misters and fountains in Vegas, despite being situated in the middle of a desert.
Tourism is Michigan’s second biggest industry and a huge boon to the state coffer. Travelers to and around the state spend more than $17 billion each year, generating more than $900 million in state and local taxes and accounting for more than 190,000 jobs statewide. It’s no secret the lakes are one of the primary draws to the state in every season.
Already the lakes face a plethora of environmental challenges. For instance, Lake Superior’s water level recently reached a record low for this time of the year and lakes Michigan and Huron face similarly low levels.
Great Lakes states need to reduce the stress on the lakes to protect valuable fisheries, preserve the delicate ecosystems and keep the region beautiful and tourist friendly.
Hugh McDiarmid, spokesman for the Michigan Environmental Council, believes Richardson’s comments show the Great Lakes are at risk of external water withdrawal.
He called the lakes a national treasure like the Grand Canyon and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and people are growing more aware of how integral the Great Lakes are to Michigan’s economy and way of life.
The one positive outcome of Richardson’s political blunder is the attention now being drawn to the intrinsic value of the Great Lakes and the necessity to keep them where they belong. Michigan cannot afford to send its already threatened waters to abate the Southwest’s unquenchable thirst.
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