Great Lakes abandoned by Trump

Clean water is not a partisan issue. Democrats, Republicans and independents have, for decades, shown strong, consistent support for protecting the Great Lakes.

Yet the new Republican administration is preparing to propose a budget that drastically reduces funding for the Great Lakes Funding Initiative. Under the Trump budget directives, the federal funding portion for the $300 million annual budget would be slashed to just $10 million.

The Great Lakes Funding Initiative supports restoration and protection work on the Great Lakes, including cleaning up pollution in areas of concern, preventing and controlling invasive species, reducing runoff from farms that contributes to harmful algal blooms, and restoring habitats that are vital to protecting native species. The initiative also supports commercial and sport fishing, as well as other recreational activities that rely on a vibrant and safe Great Lakes environment.

The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on the Earth. They contain one fifth of the world's fresh surface water and 95 percent of the U.S. supply of fresh water. More than 10 percent of the U.S. population lives in the Great Lakes Basin. In our neighbor to north, Canada, over 30 percent of the population is served by the Great Lakes. The total population served by this amazing natural resource is over than 30 million people. In addition to Illinois residents, this includes populations in Wisconsin and Michigan, two states that provided narrow victory margins for the current president, granting him victory in the Electoral College. How ironic.

Concerned residents of all states in the Great Lakes Basin, which include Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, New York and Ohio should contact their local, state and national representatives to express their opposition to this massive budget cut and their support for clean water and a vibrant, healthy Great Lakes Basin.

Joanne E. Zienty

Wheaton