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 THREAT TO GREAT LAKES WATER SUPPLY
With over 35 miles of Lake Michigan coastline in Northern Indiana, protecting the water and environment of the Great Lakes is critical to Indiana.
The Great Lakes are a Valuable Resource
THE GREAT LAKES ARE A unique and precious resource, providing freshwater for 33 million people who live within the basin and supporting the region's ecosystem and economy. The Great Lakes basin contains nearly 20 percent of the earth's fresh surface water. It is the only freshwater system of its kind in size and ecological diversity and is essential to humans and wildlife alike; providing homes, food, recreation, and economic sustainability. The Great Lakes are critically important to the region. There are nearly 11,000 miles of coastline surrounding the Great Lakes and their connecting channels and islands. Recreation is a 6 billion dollar industry across the Great Lakes region. For the people of the Great Lakes states, they hold the key to our economic health, to our recreation, and to irreplaceable family experiences. The Great Lakes are a resource worth protecting and restoring, and it is clear that we need our water here at home where it can support our way of life. 
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FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
by Gary Doxtater
Teaming With Wildlife
Sportsmen have been funding the management of our fish and wildlife resources for over 60 years through two Federal Excise Tax Acts, one on hunting gear and the other on fishing equipment. These were the first two legs on our three-legged stool. Over the years, not much attention has been given to our nongame species. Game animals of both fish and wildlife received most of the funding because of dedicated funds from the federal taxes. Nongame species did get some benefits from habitat restoration projects such as vegetative plantings to improve habitat for quail. This resulted in benefits to many species of nongame birds. As years passed, we became more aware of the importance of "wildlife diversity," which is the variety species of animals and plants living together in a balanced environment. |
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Great Lakes Basin map is courtesy of the International Joint Commission. |
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Maintaining the health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin helps assure the health of this precious fresh water resource for generations to come, including generations of Hoosiers.
FAQ'S - ANNEX 2001 IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENTS What is Annex 2001?
On June 18, 2001, the Great Lakes Governors and the Premiers of Ontario and Québec signed the Great Lakes Charter Annex. This historically significant measure outlined unprecedented protections for the Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Basin to help improve the health of the Basin ecosystem. It provided a framework to update the management of Basin waters. The Governors and Premiers then asked a Working Group made up of State and Provincial staff, in collaboration with other partners, to develop agreements to implement the Annex into law. Find out more about Annex 2001 and how it affects our environment... |
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| Illustration and first paragraph courtesy
Indiana Geological Survey . |
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COAL GASIFICATION - GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - GOOD FOR INDIANA!
Coal gasification is much more efficient than conventional coal plants; producing much less solid waste and air pollution. It also reduces our reliance on out-of-state resources and creates Hooiser jobs!
Coal Gasification: A Source of Clean Energy (CO-05)
Through the process of gasification, Indiana's high sulfur coal can be converted to an "environmentally clean" fuel. In the gasification process, the carbon of the coal is converted to a gaseous fuel that lacks the impurities of coal. To accomplish this, pulverized coal is heated in a gasifier that is pressurized with steam and air. Hydrogen from the steam reacts with the carbon to form methane gas. Other carbonaceous gases are also formed during the reaction, but in later steps they also are converted to methane, which increases the heating value of the gas. After purification, the quality and Btu rating of the coal gas are similar to those of natural gas. |
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