Official PMWC Positions
Sea Lamprey Controls – 2006
PMWC:
- Opposes the continuation of both the electric barrier (Custer Weir) and the quadrennial treatment with TFM to control migration of the Sea Lamprey in the Pere Marquette River.
- Supports further study of alternate methods for control of the Sea Lamprey.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) – 2008
The Pere Marquette Watershed Council supports the use of sound science and precautionary principles to protect and sustain the quality of our water resources. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) have shown historical and potential future impacts on our surface water, ground water and clean air resources.
PMWC:
- Supports a statewide moratorium on new and expanding CAFOs.
- Opposes legislation which would grant CAFOs any special privileges or exemptions from state and federal environmental laws or regulations which apply to other human activities in Michigan, including the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.
- Opposes any laws that would make CAFOs immune from liability for damages caused by their operations.
- Opposes the permitting of any CAFO facilities within the watersheds of any designated State Natural River or Federal Wild and Scenic River.
Water Mining – 2008
The ground waters of the state are the source of our rivers and streams. The Pere Marquette Watershed Council supports the protection and conservation of these ground waters against commercial exploitation, diminution, or pollution. This is critical to preserving high quality streams, especially rivers protected under the Michigan Natural Rivers Act such as the Pere Marquette River.
PMWC:
- Opposes any new or expanded commercialization in the designated Natural River or Wild and Scenic River watersheds that would have even a small effect on the surface water flow.
Off-Road Vehicles – Closed Roads (ORV) – 2009
The Pere Marquette Watershed Council supports the closure of all roads adjacent to streams within the Watershed to Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) traffic. Increased sedimentation at road/stream crossings, hill and bank climbing and exploration of off-road state, federal and private lands by ORVs would be detrimental to the health of our streams and would potentially increase trespass.
PMWC:
- Opposes the opening of roads within the watershed which would impact environmental quality.
Cold Water Regulations – 2010
PMWC:
- Supports the implementation of regulations of the cold water fishery – the Pere Marquette River, as science supports the increase in fish population.