ࡱ> 685%` Cbjbj"x"x 4@@C||||  U{{{$ hsd' {{' '  '  '  <   >A|= T %0U\ ,S X  L{E tI {{{ {{{U' ' ' ' || Michigan Guiding Principles March 20, 2007 draft Michigan has an abundance of water resources. There is no overall shortage of water in the State. Currently, water withdrawals in Michigan do not present a crisis. Not all water withdrawals are alike, and have differing levels and types of impacts. Certain water sources can support a large amount of withdrawal without harm to other users or to the ecosystem. Other water sources are more vulnerable to large withdrawals. Some areas of the state have been identified as sensitive to groundwater withdrawals. Current and future withdrawals in these areas require a higher degree of monitoring, scientific research, and understanding. Water is a valuable asset, and if used efficiently, can provide the basis of a strong economy and high quality of life in Michigan. Ground and surface water are strongly interrelated and cannot be viewed as separate and distinct. In order to protect basic ecological function, adequate stream base flow must be maintained. Water use by type of user or by purpose of use is not prioritized. The amount of water withdrawn from a hydrologic system must be sustainable. Water resource sustainability involves the use of scientific analysis to balance the economic, social and environmental demands placed on the resource to ensure that the needs of current and future generations are not compromised by current usage. Indicators of sustainability are important to assessing Michigans water use. The accuracy and effectiveness of water management is an evolutionary, long-term process that must be continually enhanced with scientific information. Additional monitoring of stream flows, water levels, aquatic ecosystems, and related mapping and analysis is essential to protecting water resources. Any water management process must be consistent with applicable statutory and common law in Michigan, neither abrogating nor expanding the law absent specific legislative action. Consistency of regulation and predictability between state and local units of government are essential to managing the resource. Education is critical for all water users, private and public, to understand their responsibilities for water conservation and efficient use. Local, voluntary problem-solving approaches for resolving water use disputes and withdrawal impacts are the desirable starting point for conflict resolution. Michigan has a role in disputes involving impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. Legal action by any party should be seen as the last option. Withdrawals presenting the greatest risk of causing an adverse impact to natural resources should be the primary focus of a water management process. Information gathered and provided for the purpose of preliminary evaluation of water withdrawal projects must be simple and understandable in the most accurate and represented manner possible. Mitigation of adverse resource impacts is a reasonable alternative for new and expanding water withdrawals where deemed appropriate. Conservation of water resources includes the efficient use and protection of quality. Preliminary evaluation of potential adverse resource impacts on fish populations and other existing water users caused by new water withdrawal must have value to new and existing water users, is important prior to significant economic investment and is critical to determining the need for further analysis. The goals of a water use assessment tool are to provide a better understanding of withdrawal impacts, to minimize water use conflicts, to facilitate water planning among stakeholders, and to assess long-term conservation strategies. 56 y $ * uZChshsCJaJh2&CJaJhsCJaJhshG:CJaJhsh acCJaJ67 : = 3K&ZC & Fgd acC21h:ps/ =!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DAD Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No ListC 67:=3 K & Z E00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0  0  0  0  0 0 0 0 0 0C C C8@0(  B S  ?O qO $mO KO O |O O ,,O lQO O oO <O QO ,RO |7700[[` ` E     ??88cch h E 9 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsState9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace        i n EZ BEGPry $*BEi n Eu^`o(. ^`hH. pLp^p`LhH. @ @ ^@ `hH. ^`hH. L^`LhH. ^`hH. ^`hH. 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