A Bi-Weekly Publication Friday June 6, 2008

In This Issue: · WETLAND VIOLATIONS PURSUED · FARM BILL UPDATE · MICHIGAN GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE · RAE 4^TH NATIONAL CONFERECE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE CHARGES FILED FOR WETLAND VIOLATIONS Criminal charges have been filed for two wetland violations, one involving bulldozing of the shoreline and near-shore waters and the other involving draining and filling in wetlands without a permit. Authorities charged Joseph Moffa, 42, president of Ohio-based Omni Hospitality and vice president of Pride One Cherry Tree LLC, with two criminal misdemeanors for violation of state wetlands and submerged bottomlands law. Links to more on Cherry Tree Inn: Cherry Tree Inn owner facing charges Editorial: Beach grooming laws have to be given teeth Alan Taylor, of Hart Enterprises, was arraigned Tuesday in Rockford District Court on three violations of Michigan wetlands protection law. Links to more on Hart Enterprises: Hart Enterprises president charged for filling in wetland Hart CEO pleads not guilty in wetland-permit case FARM BILL UPDATE The House and Senate voted to overturn President Bush’s veto of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, better known as the Farm Bill. The $286 billion bill reauthorizes farm programs for five year allowing thousands of farmers to restore imperiled wildlife habitat and wetlands around our Great Lakes with the assistance of conservation programs authorized in the bill. The new Farm Bill contains some positives, but also has some disappointing cuts. The bill includes $4 billion for conservation programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Grasslands Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. The Wetlands Reserve Program was renewed with $1.3 billion in new funds, but included a cap on the total acres by a quarter million fewer that the 2002 Farm Bill. The Grasslands Reserve Program is continued with $300 million which is less than the previous Farm Bill. The Conservation Reserve Program was cut from 39.2 million acres to approximately 32 million acres. MICHIGAN GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE Lt. Governor John Cherry, along with the Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), various representatives of state government, the scientific and conservation communities, and grassroots advocates announced a new Michigan Great Lakes restoration initiative on June 4, 2008. Along with the announcement, MUCC released the report, Michigan's Role in Great Lakes Protection and Restoration; Analysis and Recommendations and the Office of the Great Lakes released its 2007 State of the Great Lakes Report, both which were instrumental in the creation of this initiative. The Michigan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that will be developed by the end of the year will be a blueprint for the state to expand its work on improving the condition of the lakes. To access the reports: MUCC's gap analysis: http://www.mucc.org/policy/gapreport.pdf Michigan's Great Lakes report: http://mi.gov/documents/deq/deq-ogl-SOGL_report_185661_7.pdf Michigan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the media: Restoration initiative targets health of the Great Lakes (The Bay City Times) Michigan advocates seek Great Lakes action (AP) Michigan will pitch Great Lakes cleanup plan to next president (The Detroit News) REGISTER TODAY FOR RESTORE AMERICA’S ESTUARIES 4^TH NATIONAL CONFERNCE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPENS Restore America's Estuaries' 4^th National Conference and Expo on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Creating Solutions Through Collaborative Partnerships October 11-15, 2008 Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence Click here to go directly to 2008 Conference Registration page.

The Michigan Wetland Action Coalition (MWAC), a project of Tip of The Mitt Watershed Council, is a network of wetland protection advocates across the state. MWAC is focused on promoting sound wetland protection policies at the state and federal level through education and advocacy. Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street , Petoskey, Michigan 49770 Phone: (231) 347-1181 x 114 Fax: (231) 347-5928 Email: jenniferm@watershedcouncil.org Web: http://www.michiganwetlands.org/