Government’s commitment to the Great Lakes has been compared to waves sent to shore only to be taken back again.

One wave came with the Great Lakes Compact, an historic agreement to restrict diversions of the lakes’ water to arid regions. Minnesota led the way, signing the compact first. But then some Great Lakes states and others who needed to sign off dawdled.

Another wave came with a visit to Duluth in 2005 by Bush administration officials who touted a $20-billion, 15-year Great Lakes restoration plan. It included measures to stop invasive critters, end sewage overflows, slow erosion, clean up toxic hot spots and preserve and restore fish and wildlife habitat. But then President Bush and Congress failed to come up with the funding touted — and desperately needed.

Another wave is crashing to shore this year, and, for the sake of the economic and environmental well-being of the entire Great Lakes region, Congress can jump into it and splash with both feet.

In his inaugural budget, President Obama included $475 million to halt invasives, reduce pollution, restore habitat, clean up contaminated sediments and deal with other long-critical Great Lakes issues. The U.S. House funded fully the initiative, but the Senate pledged only $400 million.

A committee that’ll come up with a final number could make its decision as early as this week (early October). It has the power to prevent this latest wave of government commitment from retreating.

“Lake Superior is much more fortunate than some of the other Great Lakes, but Lake Superior is not immune. It’s every bit as sensitive,” Obama’s newly appointed Great Lakes Czar, Cameron Davis, told the Duluth News Tribune editorial board. “There’s a high level of interest in Washington in getting this initiative off the ground and in bringing the Great Lakes back to life.

“It’s going to happen with everyone working together,” Davis said.

That can start with members of the committee in Washington and a vote to fully fund the initiative. Captured before it can retreat, the $475 million is a long-overdue commitment to Great Lakes restoration and a down payment on years of necessary work ahead.

— Duluth News Tribune, Oct. 8