ALARM SOUNDS FOR GREAT LAKES

The Lake Michigan Federation recently completed a study that evaluated the extent to which local planning efforts by shoreline communities addressed the protection of Lake Michigan and its resources. This article reports on some results from this study. The evaluation focused on five questions: how well Lake Michigan was protected at the local level; how well was runoff or nonpoint-source pollution addressed; to what degree were environmentally sensitive planning practices being used; to what extent were resources such as wetlands being restored; and what influence did the state have on the local planning practices. County and municipal jurisdictions in four states surrounding Lake Michigan--Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin--were surveyed. Findings showed that very little watershed planning is taking place in Lake Michigan communities, with only one jurisdiction reporting that it was actually implementing planning for its watershed. Groundwater received less protection by local government than other resources such as wetlands and forests. Results also showed that although many communities are addressing runoff and nonpoint-source pollution, few are taking advantage of straightforward strategies such as reducing impervious or hard surfaces. Several examples demonstrate that states can be influential in providing the motivation for protecting water.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1762461
• Corporate Authors:

  American Planning Association

  122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1500
  Chicago, IL  United States  60603-6107
• Authors:
  • Cabala, T
• Publication Date: 2005-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 20-23
• Serial:
  • Planning
  • Volume: 71
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Planning Association
  • ISSN: 0001-2610
  • Serial URL: http://www.planning.org

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coasts; Environmental protection; Groundwater; Local government; Planning; Runoff; State government; Surveys; Water quality management; Watersheds; Wetlands
• Geographic Terms: Illinois; Indiana; Lake Michigan; Michigan; Wisconsin
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00986602
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 1 2005 12:00AM