Page 53 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

14 withdrawal assessment tool is insufficient for the purpose
15 of adequately mapping and assessing Michigan
16 groundwater resources and consideration of applications
17 for groundwater withdrawal. Although an evaluation
18 performed by the Water Resources Conservation Advisory
19 Council found that the assessment tool provides automatic
20 authorization for withdrawals in over 80 percent of all
21 cases statewide, Michigan Farm Bureau believes
22 continued improvement of the assessment tool is needed
23 including but not limited to the following:
Additional data collection and model enhancement with the latest scientific data until the predictions are in agreement with actual results of the given water withdrawal.
Continued refinement of the online Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT) accounting for regional variability and privately collected data. University research to verify accuracy of the assessment tool.
Working with well drillers to ensure they have sufficient understanding of geological and hydrologic processes to provide uniformity in the best possible knowledge and service to their clients, as well as the most accurate and useful reporting of data to the State, including groundwater location and availability, and soil and geological formations. We encourage voluntary submission of geological samples to the Michigan Geological Survey and the development of a trust fund for protecting participants against liability for findings resulting from sample analysis.
Investigating sources of funding for geological mapping.
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48 Michigan regions regarding water availability and use,
49 we recognize a “one size fits all” solution may not be
50 the best answer. We support completion of the
51 comprehensive water use study in Southwest Michigan
52 to collect the data necessary to make appropriate
53 changes within the WWAT.
54 We support the changes made by Public Act 209 of
55 2018 to provide for an optional alternate process for site
56 specific reviews of high capacity water withdrawals.
57 This new law is based on updated scientific modeling
58 and provides a more accurate reflection of the regional
59 variability of water use impacts. Additionally, the new
60 law clarifies the Department of Environmental Quality’s
61 (DEQ) role and timeframes for review and approval of
62 withdrawal applications under the new process. We
63 encourage MFB to oversee the implementation of the
64 new law and develop educational information about the
As there are significant differences between
Delegate Session: Thursday– Page 11