Number: 1982-11
WHEREAS, twenty percent of the earth’s fresh water is in those five inland seas known collectively as the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, approximately thirty percent of the population of the United States and fifty percent of the population of Canada live in the Great Lakes basin; and
WHEREAS, a major portion of the industry and manufacturing capacity of both the United States and Canada is located in the Great Lakes basin; and
WHEREAS, there is an increasing demand for water to meet agricultural, industrial, and municipal water requirements in the Great Lakes watershed; and
WHEREAS, the waters of the Great Lakes are a major source of fish for food and a major provider of outdoor recreation on this continent; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes are a major surface transportation waterway benefiting the national economy; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes watershed provides water to generate a substantial amount of the electrical power now used by the populace and industry of the United States and Canada; and
WHEREAS, there are reports of new plans to divert substantial quantities of water from the Great Lakes watershed to western water-sheds, these diversions being additional to water now going to the Illinois River system via the Chicago River, the Sanitary Ship Channel, and the Cal Sag Channel; and
WHEREAS, the level of the Great Lakes is subject to significant natural fluctuations which may be affected by diversion of water with detrimental and unpredictable ecological consequences;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 18-21, 1982, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is opposed to any plan to divert additional water from the Great Lakes watershed to points outside the Great Lakes basin for any purpose.