While Indiana is perhaps best known for corn, soybeans and particularly this time of year auto racing, it is easy to forget that we are, along with seven others, a Great Lakes State. More than a million years ago glaciation gave birth to the five great lakes when the ice melted. They comprise one of the world's largest fresh surface water systems. It has been estimated that if the water in the lakes were evenly distributed over the contiguous 48 states, it would have a depth of 9.5 feet. Only the polar ice caps contain more fresh water.

In 2000, regional production in the Great Lakes basin amounted to two trillion dollars exceeding the gross domestic production of all nations except the United States and Japan. The sports fishing industry is estimated to be in excess of two billion dollars and the lakes provide drinking water for about 33 million people.

Lake Michigan is the second largest of the Great Lakes and the only one entirely within the United States, Indiana has only 45 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and about 75 percent of it is developed. Yet in spite of its densely populated cities, steel mills, petro-chemical companies and power plants, there are unique natural areas. In a study by the Nature Conservancy, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore ranks third among all the national parks in plant species diversity. Also it has been estimated that before settlers arrived, the Great Lakes ecosystem was home to as many as 180 fish species.

Tragically, The Great Lakes including Lake Michigan are in trouble mainly as a result of human activity. In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that the state of the water quality of the lakes was poor to fair. Among the threats to the lakes are:

1) Raw sewage overflows that pose a health threat and result in closed beaches

2) The appearance of invasive species like the lamprey, alewives and zebra muscles which disrupt the native food webs

3) Wetland losses that alter or eliminate animal habitats

4) The accumulation of toxic materials in the lake sediments

5) Proposals have been made to export and divert lake water in large tankers to Asia, by pipelines to the South and Southwest and through massive bottling operations.

There are a number of organizations that are raising public awareness about the plight of the Great Lakes, offering possible remediation steps and lobbying state and federal governments in behalf of the lakes. One such group is the Lake Michigan Interleague Organization of the League of Women Voters that was founded in 1966 to prepare and distribute information and build a wide understanding of Lake Michigan's water problems and offer possible solutions. During its history, LMIO has had many positions and action items. Action on Lake Michigan issues may be taken only when the four basin state LWV's boards and the national board have authorized it. If action is to be taken on an issue that affects, all of the lakes, then permission from all eight great lakes states' League boards must be obtained. Working together these eight independent LWV groups are realizing a common goal and making a difference to preserve a national treasure-the Great Lakes.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, multi-issue organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues, and influences policy through education and advocacy. For information about the League, visit the Web site www.lwvmontgomerycounty.org or voice mail 339-6598.