What: Open house and listening session on proposed Waukesha diversion
Who: Hosted by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
When: Thursday, March 3, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Holiday Inn Duluth Downtown, located at 200 W. First St., Duluth

The Great Lakes are precious, a source of drinking water for millions and the ecological glue connecting eight states and two provinces. Waukesha’s proposal to divert Lake Michigan water to a city outside of the Great Lakes basin would undermine our hard-won protection of Lake Superior’s water.

Fortunately, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has a vote, and his “No” vote would protect the Great Lakes. Citizens of this region can come to a public meeting on March 3 in Duluth and urge Governor Dayton to do the right thing.

Under the Great Lakes Compact, all diversions of Great Lakes water are banned.  An exemption to this ban may be requested only if the community has shown a need for water, and it lacks a viable, safe and sustainable water supply. A diversion has to be a last resort. Independent engineering reports show clearly that Waukesha has viable options besides tapping Lake Michigan water, so their proposal should be denied.

Here are a few of the problems with Waukesha’s proposal:

• 46 other communities in southeast Wisconsin are already successfully treating for radium
• Waukesha’s discharge into the Root River will disrupt the natural water flow of a popular trout stream. It could also add additional phosphorus pollution to a river that already has high levels.
• Waukesha is requesting far more water than they need. They propose to use 10.1 million gallons a day, but they currently only use 6 million gallons a day.

Minnesotans will be proud to know that our state was the first to approve the Great Lakes Compact. Governor Dayton could ensure that we are among the first states to uphold the Compact.

It only takes one governor to stop this proposal. Please attend the only public event in Minnesota or northwestern Wisconsin about the Waukesha proposal. Urge Governor Mark Dayton to deny Waukesha’s plan.