As November rapidly approaches, we have made the decision to focus on getting on the ballot in 2012. For more details, please read our Press Release.

No other state is defined by water as much as Michigan.

Each of us is in the Great Lakes State has a favorite stream, river, lake or Great Lake—the inland seas that make Michigan one of the most easily identifiable places on earth from outer space.

As the stewards of the largest fresh water reservoir in the world, we know there is no pure Michigan without pure water.

Our water is under threat. Mining companies are actively exploring an ore body that extends throughout the Upper Great Lakes from Minnesota to Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and down into the mitten of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. These proposed sulfide and uranium mines differ from the oxide mining historically done in this region.

Sulfide mining and water don’t mix and in a water rich environment like Michigan there is virtually no safe way to conduct this type of mining.

Due to their unique and complex geology, these sulfide rock formations contain rich metallic ore bodies of copper, nickel and other heavy metals while others contain uranium. When mining activities expose the sulfide bearing rock to air and water, it decomposes releasing among other chemicals, sulfuric acid which causes acid mine drainage and heavy metal acid rain that can be devastating to fresh water, fish, aquatic life as well as plant and wildlife hundreds of miles beyond the mine or processing sites.

Why a Ballot Initiative?

The only way to give voice to this threat and win the battle for pure water is to take the message to Michigan voters directly via a ballot initiative campaign. This is a powerful and effective tool and provides a grassroots political front to let people take action not only throughout the Lower Peninsula but across the Great Lakes Region and beyond. It will help us reach all those who believe as we do that our single most important strategic resource is the fresh water in our Great Lakes.

Protect your water by supporting MiWater.