The IJC heard concerns for threats to the Great Lakes when it visited Traverse City on July 24: Enbridge Line 5, nuclear waste storage, invasive species, bottled water, plastics and privatization, and harmful algal blooms. But the most threatening concern, one that drives or is exacerbated by the others, was the elephant in the room: the unprecedented record high water levels, which are causing havoc throughout the Great Lakes region.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. What is your MOST important issue regarding the health and protections of the Great Lakes? * Keeping Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Shutting down Line 5 Stopping factory farm pollution Protecting our groundwater Passing… Read more »
On December 31, 2025, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund Act (OSLTF) expired.1 The OSLTF was first authorized to tax oil producers in 1990, and provided funds for federal responses to oil spills and compensation for certain damages.2 Without the OSLTF, states and taxpayers may be left on the hook for oil spill costs and… Read more »
This month, people across the globe celebrated Human Rights Day. Every year on December 10th, the world celebrates the anniversary of “one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR].” The UDHR was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, over 75 years ago, as a result… Read more »
by Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director For fourteen years, Flow Water Advocates has stood on a simple, powerful truth: The waters of the Great Lakes belong to everyone—and must be protected for all time. Not just for this generation. Not just for human use. But for the entire living water cycle that sustains our region, our… Read more »
eNewsletter Signup * indicates requiredEmail Address *First Name Last Name What’s your top water concern? What we’re working on today. Shut down Line 5. There is a 70+ year old pipeline running through the Mackinac Straits, and Enbridge’s proposal to bore a tunnel under the straits isn’t the right solution for Michigan. End factory farm… Read more »
We are sharing some very exciting news today! For Love of Water (FLOW) has a new name: Flow Water Advocates. (But you can still call us “Flow”). For nearly 14 years, our organization has worked relentlessly to protect the waters of the Great Lakes Basin and the people’s public trust rights to enjoy, use, navigate, and… Read more »
By Liz Kirkwood, FLOW Executive Director Last week, we suffered a great loss with the sudden passing of our dear friend—Indigenous attorney, activist, and Water Protector—Holly T. Bird. The outpouring of love and admiration from across the community and online speaks volumes about the kind of person Holly was and the profound impact she made…. Read more »
April 1st is traditionally a day for harmless pranks, unexpected surprises, and fake engagement announcements. But did you know it’s also Fossil Fools’ Day? No, that’s not a typo—it’s a day dedicated to calling out the real tricksters: the fossil fuel industry. And if you live in the Great Lakes region, you’re no stranger to… Read more »
John Flesher vividly recalls his first up-close encounter with the Great Lakes. He had flown into Michigan the day before and seen Lake Erie from his plane, but it was nothing like stepping onto a Lake Michigan beach that day in August 1989. “The waves were just pounding the shore,” he says, “and I was… Read more »
