We invite you to write a letter to your representative in order to raise awareness around this issue.

Tell them that you are passionate about protecting our water resources for future generations and that you support HB 5319 to place Michigan’s water in the public trust.

Find Your Representative: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Find your Senator: Read HB 5319: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ Search and Click for 2009-HB-5319.

Write a letter to the editor. Here are the links to West Michigan Public Opinion Pages:

• Grand Rapids Press: pulse@grpress.com
• Holland Sentinel: http://extra.hollandsentinel.com/submitletter.shtml

Please review the excellent talking points below and use them in your letter to the editor

DISPEL THE LIES BEING CIRCULATED ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST AND HOUSE BILL 5319

People who don’t have Michigan’s best interests at heart are lying to the press, framing the public trust bill as a "tax" on water. No one owns groundwater or our lakes and streams. If they did, it would be property, and subject to tax under our property tax laws! Water is a flowing, moving commons held by the state on behalf of the citizens and people who live and work here.

Our groundwater, streams and lakes belong to everyone. This has been the law in Michigan and elsewhere in the U.S. for centuries. The only way to keep water from being exported and controlled by those outside of Michigan is to affirm water is ours forever. This is all House Bill 5319 does.

The bill does not require new regulation – our water is already regulated. The bill allows the continued right of individuals, landowners, farmers, businesses to use water reasonably as part of the commons. The public trust prevents unregulated shipping and sale of water outside of our watershed for private gain.

HB 5319 IS NOT A TAX BILL.! IT IS NOT AN ANTI-BOTTLED WATER BILL IT DOES NOT AFFECT the private use or public use by those who own property, businesses, farms, wineries, cottages, homes. The public trust protects our Great Lakes and now must protect the lakes, streams, and groundwater that feed them.

BUSINESS AND U.N. REPORTS PREDICT THAT DEMAND FOR WATER IN SOME PLACES IN THE WORLD WILL EXCEED SUPPLY BY 30 OR 40 PERCENT! WE USE AND ENJOY 20 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S WATER. WHERE WILL THE WATER GO IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW TO PREVENT ITS EXPORT OR SALE. This does not mean we as a people cannot allow water to be shipped for special humanitarian needs by those hired by us to deliver it.

THANK YOU! Your children and grandchildren thank you.

Please Support Us with Your Generosity

Flow for Water Coalition
48 E. Front Street, Ste. 301
Traverse City, Michigan 49684

(231) 941-6584, Ext. 19

www.flowforwater.org