Those Who Serve: Environmentalist of the Year Awards will Look Back on a Year of Victories

April 7, 2004

For generations farmers have cultivated some of the world‘s best land in northwest Michigan for growing cherries. Stretches of rolling orchards stand in sharp contrast to the sparkling lakes, winding rivers, and lush forests that characterize this section of the Michigan peninsula. Yet the natural spaces, charming communities, and quality of life that lure people to this region are the characteristics now threatened by intense population growth and development pressure. Simultaneous with the advent of more people, businesses, traffic, and pavement, has arisen a groundswell of organizations and individuals focused on preserving what makes this corner of the world such a great place to live and do business.
In this region, the old adage, “Earth Day is every day,“ is really true. Local nonprofits, businesses, and individuals work to protect northwest Michigan‘s land and water resources. Most efforts are rooted in the fact that this place either feeds one‘s soul or one‘s pocketbook. For many, it is both reasons.
This Earth Day, April 22, the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC) and the Great Lakes Bioneers will host an event to celebrate the people, groups, and businesses that seek a balance between protecting the land and water resources of this region and managing the rapid growth that is changing it.

VICTORIES
The environmental victories in the last year mark a divergence from what it means to be an environmentalist. More nontraditional groups and area business leaders are embracing a conservation ethic and awakening to the understanding that a thriving economy and a healthy environment are intertwined. In northwest Michigan, access to clean, plentiful water, sandy beaches, and public lands for hunting and fishing are essential to continue drawing people to visit the region -- and to preserve the quality of life that residents have come to expect and enjoy.
For Ken Smith, executive director of NMEAC, there are many reasons to celebrate Earth Day.
“We‘re always celebrating some really outstanding work,“ Smith said. “But this year, I think we‘re even more positive, more optimistic than we‘ve been in a long time.“
This past year has marked a series of significant environmental victories across Michigan. One of the most notable was the court ruling that ordered the Nestle Corporation to stop withdrawing groundwater in Mecosta County for its Ice Mountain bottled water. Judge Lawrence Root ruled to shut down the plant because of the damage it imposed on neighboring lakes, streams, and wetlands.
The volunteers of Sweetwater Alliance used old-fashioned grassroots organizing techniques along with the talents of attorney Jim Olson, to educate and mobilize the public about the threats to the region‘s groundwater as a result of Nestle‘s Ice Mountain bottling operation. Sweetwater was honored by NMEAC as the Environmentalist Grassroots Organization of the Year at last year‘s banquet.
Since last year, Sweetwater‘s efforts have extended beyond advocacy to protect Michigan‘s dwindling water resources. The group has been pivotal in helping to organize and educate citizens in Manistee County and across the state about a proposed 425-megawatt coal burning power plant on the shores of Manistee Lake.
“We‘re building in people the power to say that there are some things more are important than making money,“ said Robert Bartle a Sweetwater organizer. “This region needs to explore energy alternatives that do not damage and destroy communities and public health. Wind and solar energy are viable alternatives, and people need to come together in this region to lead the way in creating a better future.“

HARTMAN-HAMMOND
Another victory for area activists is the Grand Traverse County Road Commission‘s failure to meet state and federal environmental standards and secure the permits needed to build the proposed Hartman-Hammond bridge over the Boardman River valley. A coalition of environmental and recreation groups and individuals have long advocated that there is a better way to solve the region‘s traffic congestion without destroying wetlands and degrading a natural area just outside the city. Opponents of the bridge support a “Smart Roads“ plan which calls for modernizing nearby roads, connecting Keystone and Hammond roads, restoring the existing Cass Road bridge to two lanes, and investing more in public transportation.
One of the key people leading the effort in the region to pursue a less expensive and damaging solution is Kelly Thayer of the Michigan Land Use Institute. Last year Thayer was recognized by NMEAC for his efforts to pursue a more reasoned alternative with an award for Environmental Professional of the year.
“The Hammond-Hartman issue has reached a really important milestone in that the Department of Environmental Quality is now really doing its job for the first time in 12 or 13 years,“ said Ken Smith. “I think the really important thing is that our environmental agencies have all weighed in on this and they‘ve listened to the citizens and the people who say this is really an important resource that needs to be protected.“

WETLANDS WATCH
Sometimes one lone whistle-blower can achieve as much as professionals and activist groups. Last year‘s Environmental Volunteer of the Year was Greg Reisig, the Elk Rapids citizen who brought developer Bill Clous‘s wetlands violations to public attention. Reisig was honored for tracking and successfully intervening in massive wetland fill violations at a proposed housing complex in the Village of Elk Rapids, which threatened the integrity of Grand Traverse Bay. As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers stopped the development and any further violations.
Reisig did not relax his watchdog efforts after winning the NMEAC award, however, and continues to track the issue. Clous, was quickly back in action in East Bay Township, but recently was stung with a $75,000 fine for significant earth-moving and soil erosion violations.
Learn more about the diverse approaches to environmental activism in Northern Michigan at the upcoming Environmentalist of the Year celebration, an event featuring local food, live music, and skits spoofing local environmentalists and developers. The program will also feature video highlights of last year‘s international Bioneers Conference, including remarks by the leading environmental leaders around the globe.
The Environmentalist of the Year event will be held Thursday, April 22, from 6-9 p.m. at NMC‘s new Great Lakes Campus facility on Front Street in Traverse City. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance at Oryana Food Co-op or $15 at the door; students and seniors pay $6.

John Nelson is the Baykeeper for the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.