Michigan wetlands near Porcupine Mountains (Photo: clare and ben via Flickr.com)

When the House takes up legislation to end the state’s wetland regulation program — proposed by Republicans and Gov. Jennifer Granholm — it is unclear if the measure will receive support from some senior GOP lawmakers from northern Michigan.

Proponents of the plan to eliminate the state’s wetland program argue that environmental regulation is an obstacle to industrial development in the wetland-rich Saginaw River watershed, but others worry that reducing protections could lower water quality and hurt the state’s other big sectors — agriculture and tourism.

Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) and Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City) told Michigan Messenger that wetland protection and economic development can coexist. Both Elsenheimer and Allen said there are advantages to keeping the regulatory process in place.

“I am one of those people that think you can pursue conservation-oriented goals while at the same time developing an economy,“ Elsenheimer said. “There are places that have done so successfully. Frankly, Northwest Lower Michigan is one of them.”

Elsenheimer said that he is concerned that the Army Corps of Engineers would leave a large portion of Michigan’s wetlands unregulated and he would rather turn it over to county soil conservation programs to oversee.

“I think best solution is to allow those counties that have capacity to do so to take on much of the administrative review of wetland permits,” he said.

There is a tradition of GOP support for environmental conservation in the northwestern Lower Peninsula. The wetland program that is now on the chopping block was signed into law 30 years ago by Republican Gov. William Milliken of Traverse City.

In a March 13 statement, Milliken, who served as governor from 1969 to 1983, said that repealing the wetlands law would be a “huge setback to this and future generations.”

The former governor said:

Abandonment of the commitment this law represents is not in the interests of Michigan. Our state cannot claim to be a thoughtful steward of the Great Lakes if it neglects the wetland resources that are critical to their health.

Those comments were echoed by Andy Knott, executive director of the Watershed Center in Traverse City, in a statement presented to lawmakers at a House hearing this month. “The Traverse City region’s economy relies heavily on water-based recreation and tourism. Our region must have the best wetland protection program possible to protect our water resources, our economy, our property values, and our quality of life.”

Knott called wetlands “a vital part of our communities natural infrastructure” that “perform essential ecosystem services in a more cost-effective manner than built structures” and urged support for maintaining the state program.

Allen said that he is “very concerned” about the proposal to end state wetland regulation, but that is he still learning about the proposal. A major concern, he said, is that projects will be delayed by the federal government’s slow turnaround time on permits.

Allen said that he believes the measure will have a “very tough time” making it through the Democratic-controlled House.

“Maybe it is high time that it becomes more known that we are conservation-minded,” said Sue McGillicuddy, past president of the Michigan chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection. “Conservation is at the roots of being conservative.”

“What is surprising to me is that people don’t naturally look at Republicans as being conservation-minded,“ she said. “Most of the funds that land conservancies receive comes from Republicans.”

McGillicuddy said that in Meridian Township east of Lansing, where she is supervisor, wetlands are regulated down to a quarter of an acre.

In dealing with wetlands, we have got to think of the future generations, she said. Wetlands purify water and replenish aquifers, and building on them results in infrastructure failure because structures built on top eventually sink or subside, she added.

“I find it very upsetting to see our Legislature even considering abolishing wetland protections,” she said.

McGillicuddy said that she hopes Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Township) — a former recipient of the Republicans for Environmental Protection Green Elephant award for achievement and chairwoman of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee — will take action to oppose the plan.

Birkholz’s office did not respond to requests for comment.