Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 8, Number 2 • March-April 2000
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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The Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) officially released its environmental resource project to the public this month. The resource project, entitled “Eco-Source” is a directory of the region’s environmental nonprofits, business, government agencies, and educational centers. Eco- Source is currently made up of over 70 environmental organizations, 90% of which can not be found in the area’s yellow pages and 80% of which can not be found in the phone book at all.
The hard copy of the directory includes contact information, issues of expertise, mission statements and membership information. The online resource (www.ecosource.tsx.org) includes the basic directory information, a library of articles discussing local environmental issues, a calendar of local environmental events, links to participating organization websites and emails, an Email Action Network, and a downloadable version of the booklet. EAGLE also looks forward to adding online petitions, a monthly electronic newsletter of Northern Minnesota Environmental News, ways for citizens to get more active, and tips for environmental living.
Duluth’s Planning Commission voted against proceeding with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in regards to a proposed development of a golf course and hotel/lodge on the scenic Spirit Mountain. The vote was rather unexpected as large numbers of citizens and environmental professionals spoke out against the project at the City’s hearings.
A number of concerns were expressed at the hearings. Many felt the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was improperly completed and laden with errors, including a highly inaccurate map of the area and development, little discussion of the Native American historical value of the ridge, and only brief statements about the potential impacts of the development on Stewart Creek. Stewart Creek is one of the few remaining trout streams in the area, and it runs directly through the proposed course. A representative from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used on the turf would destroy the current conditions in the stream that allow trout to thrive. Stewart Creek feeds into the Saint Louis River, which is the largest tributary of Lake Superior.
Additional problems arose during the hearings when a Planning Commission member referred to environmentalists as “kooks” and told the Tree Commission that the loss of virgin forest, due to the development, was “none of your damn business”. The West Skyline Planning and Preservation Alliance (wsppa.tsx.org) is bringing the case to the courts based on the fact that the Planning Commission was a collection of citizens who had little or no understanding of what an EAW and EIS are and therefore could not legally serve as the deciding Regulatory Government Unit.