Groundwater in Crisis? Addressing Groundwater Challenges in Michigan (USA) as a Template for the Great Lakes

Alan D. Steinman, Donald G. Uzarski, David P. Lusch, Carol Miller, Patrick Doran, Tom Zimnicki, Philip Chu, Jon Allan, Jeremiah Asher, John Bratton, Don Carpenter, Dave Dempsey, Chad Drummond, John Esch, Anne Garwood, Anna Harrison, Lawrence D. Lemke, Jim Nicholas, Wendy Ogilvie, Brendan O’Leary, Paul Sachs, Paul Seelbach, Teresa Seidel, Amanda Suchy and John Yellich
Additional contact information
Alan D. Steinman: Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
Donald G. Uzarski: Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
David P. Lusch: Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
Carol Miller: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Patrick Doran: The Nature Conservancy, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
Tom Zimnicki: Environmental Stewardship Division, Michigan Department of Rural and Agricultural Development, Lansing, MI 48909, USA
Philip Chu: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, NOAA, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
Jon Allan: School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Jeremiah Asher: Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
John Bratton: LimnoTech, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
Don Carpenter: Department of Civil Engineering, Lawrence Tech University, Soutfield, MI 48220, USA
Dave Dempsey: For Love of Water, Traverse City, MI 49684, USA
Chad Drummond: Drummond-Carpenter, Orlando, FL 32801, USA
John Esch: Office of Geologic Survey, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Lansing, MI 48909, USA
Anne Garwood: Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Lansing, MI 48909, USA
Anna Harrison: Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
Lawrence D. Lemke: Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
Jim Nicholas: Nicholas-h2o, Mason City, MI 48854, USA
Wendy Ogilvie: Grand Valley Metro Council, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USA
Brendan O’Leary: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Paul Sachs: Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact, West Olive, MI 49460, USA
Paul Seelbach: School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Teresa Seidel: Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Lansing, MI 48909, USA
Amanda Suchy: Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
John Yellich: Michigan Geological Survey, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-28

Abstract: Groundwater historically has been a critical but understudied, underfunded, and underappreciated natural resource, although recent challenges associated with both groundwater quantity and quality have raised its profile. This is particularly true in the Laurentian Great Lakes (LGL) region, where the rich abundance of surface water results in the perception of an unlimited water supply but limited attention on groundwater resources. As a consequence, groundwater management recommendations in the LGL have been severely constrained by our lack of information. To address this information gap, a virtual summit was held in June 2021 that included invited participants from local, state, and federal government entities, universities, non-governmental organizations, and private firms in the region. Both technical (e.g., hydrologists, geologists, ecologists) and policy experts were included, and participants were assigned to an agricultural, urban, or coastal wetland breakout group in advance, based on their expertise. The overall goals of this groundwater summit were fourfold: (1) inventory the key (grand) challenges facing groundwater in Michigan; (2) identify the knowledge gaps and scientific needs, as well as policy recommendations, associated with these challenges; (3) construct a set of conceptual models that elucidate these challenges; and (4) develop a list of (tractable) next steps that can be taken to address these challenges. Absent this type of information, the sustainability of this critical resource is imperiled.

Keywords: groundwater; Great Lakes; agriculture; irrigation; urban water; coastal wetlands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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