February 29, 2008

The Department of Environmental Quality has announced that it will hold the next meeting of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative on March 7, at 9:30 am at Saginaw Valley State University, Curtis Hall - 2nd Floor Seminar Rooms D-G. Lt. Governor John Cherry will be the keynote speaker at the meeting to lend his support and kick-off year two of the SBCI. DEQ Director Steven E. Chester and Bay County Executive Thomas Hickner will also discuss a number of issues to be addressed this year as part of the SBCI.

"The continued health of the Great Lakes is more than simply an environmental issue - the Lakes are directly tied to the economic future of our region," Lt. Governor Cherry said. "Investing in the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes is vitally important for the citizens of the Saginaw Bay region, and why the SBCI is absolutely critical."

Local community leaders have indicated that a high priority for the Saginaw Bay coastal area this year is the reduction of phosphorus entering Saginaw Bay. In response, Director Chester and Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto have organized a Saginaw Bay phosphorus reduction effort to identify voluntary measures that can be taken in the Saginaw Bay coastal area to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Saginaw Bay. Director Chester will be announcing the committee members at the meeting who will help move these efforts forward.

The SBCI is working with citizens, local government officials, and multiple regional and federal agencies to develop and implement comprehensive approaches to promoting environmentally sound economic development and resource restoration in the Saginaw Bay coastal areas. The intent of the SBCI is to work together to achieve resource protection, improve environmental quality, and expand economic development.

More information on the on-going efforts of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative is available at http://www.michigan.gov/deq, under "Issues to Watch."

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised February 29, 2008 by Pat Watson