Blog posts by FLOW team and guest writers
Traverse City, Mich. — In a victory for the State of Michigan and its allies opposing the continued operation of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac, the Supreme Court of the United States has issued a unanimous decision that Nessel v. Enbridge will be heard in state rather than federal court…. Read more »
Get the press release In early 2025, Flow and students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) graduate program teamed up for a 16-month initiative to examine Michigan’s groundwater management and propose a statewide strategy to ensure long-term, sustainable groundwater governance. Protecting and managing groundwater is particularly complex given the lack… Read more »
Environmental groups are criticizing new Great Lakes progress reports published by the Canadian and US governments for failing to confront serious ecological problems, and for a weak commitment to the Great Lakes agreement that requires the reporting. The two reports, one on the state of the Great Lakes and the other on efforts by the… Read more »
The number of Michigan public beach closures and health advisories remained stable in 2025, according to statistics reported by the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). There were 231 beach closures and advisories, compared to 230 in 2024. Bacterial contamination was responsible for most of the advisories. In all, public beaches… Read more »
News from Progress Michigan Contact: Levi Teitel, levi@progressmichigan.org Contact: Megan Kelto, megan@flowwateradvocates.org April 14, 2026 MICHIGAN – Recent polling released by Progress Michigan shows that 75 percent of Michiganders support enacting a statewide septic code. In January, state Sen. Sam Singh introduced a bill (SB 771) that would do exactly that. If the bill passes… Read more »
Join us on April 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley for a relaxed Earth Day gathering with Flow Water Advocates, featuring food, wine, and great conversation. Executive Director Liz Kirkwood will share brief reflections and a look ahead at our priorities for protecting the Great Lakes. Space… Read more »
Traverse City, Mich. — Flow Water Advocates opposes the proposed federal environmental budget, which includes major cuts to programs that protect clean water, public health, and the Great Lakes. “These budget cuts would jeopardize the water and systems that Michiganders and people throughout the Great Lakes region rely on,” said Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of… Read more »
The Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted in 1972, with the objective of “restor[ing] and maintain[ing] the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”1 The CWA’s core purpose is to protect fish, other wildlife, and water recreation.2 It also helps protect human drinking water by regulating pollution in source waters like lakes, rivers,… Read more »
We love our neighbors to the north, but Enbridge is trying to build public support for the tunnel by convincing Michiganders that we’re dependent on Line 5 — but is it true? Let’s do the math. Download PDF Share this graphic on Facebook
Every year on March 22, people around the world recognize World Water Day—a time to reflect on just how essential water is to our lives, our communities, and our future. Here in Michigan, water isn’t just important—it’s part of who we are. Surrounded by the Great Lakes and home to thousands of inland lakes, rivers,… Read more »
