(Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives today passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), on a broad bi-partisan vote of 394 to 25, which includes a provision calling for up to $10 million a year to implement restoration projects in Lake St. Clair. Just last month, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the St. Clair Shore restoration language requested by U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak).

"In the past, Lake St. Clair has been described as 'the forgotten lake.' No longer," exclaimed U.S. Rep. Levin. "Today, we refer to Lake St. Clair as the 'Heart of the Great Lakes.'  We need to protect and restore it.  Lake St. Clair is not the largest body of water in the Great Lakes System, but it is absolutely one of the most heavily used portions of the Lakes in terms of fishing, boating and drinking water."

The Lake St. Clair provision calls for up to $10 million annually to allow the Corps, in partnership with the state of Michigan and local government, to implement the recommendations of the comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair that was approved in 2005.  The language adopted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and approved by the House is similar to language approved last year by the U.S. Senate, which was requested by Senator Carl Levin.  The Michigan Delegation attempted to get final approval of this language last fall, but the 109th Congress adjourned before reaching agreement on the water resources measure. 

"Two years ago, the Corps of Engineers completed a comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River.  Congress paid for this plan.  The recommendations contained in the management plan will help shape Lake St. Clair's future, but only if they are implemented.  Having come this far, we can't let the report and its recommendations become another study that sits on a shelf and gathers dust.  Everyone, including the federal government, has to step forward and take responsibility for turning these recommendations into action," concluded Levin.

Now that the House has passed the Water Resources legislation, the debate on the measure moves to the Senate, which is expected to take up the legislation next month.  Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow are spearheading the effort to win approval of the Lake St. Clair restoration language in the Senate. 

Also of importance to the Great Lakes, the legislation authorizes federal funds to upgrade, expand and operate the electronic barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.  The electronic barrier is the last line of defense protecting the Great Lakes from the invasive Asian carp.

Congress routinely approves a major water resources bill every two or three years, but the WRDA bill has been snagged for years due to disagreements over how to reform the manner in which the Army Corps of Engineers formulates, reviews and implements projects.  As a result, Congress has not approved a water resources bill since 2000. 

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