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Washington, D.C.-Today, the U.S. House of Representative passed H.R. 2775, a bill offered by Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), which provides $2 million annually for the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network. Kildee’s bill, which passed as an amendment to the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, ensures that the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network will remain solvent until fiscal year 2007. The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.
“I am pleased that my bill passed because it will enable the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network to continue to facilitate safe navigation in the Great Lakes region,” said Kildee. “H.R. 2775 helps ensure that the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network will receive $2 million in annual funding under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
The Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network is a research program administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Network operates 51 water level gauges in the Great Lakes region to provide real-time information for safe navigation. One of the water level gauges is located in Essexville, which provides vital information and assistance to the Coast Guard for their patrols and rescues. The Network relies heavily on Congressional appropriations to provide needed maintenance and upgrades of gauge hardware. The water level gauges require constant adjustment and maintenance because the Great Lakes continue to suffer from low water levels that place the resource at risk and jeopardize the integrity of crucial navigation routes.
Michigan’s economy largely depends on the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network’s research to guarantee the safe transfer of goods and materials in the Great Lakes region. This new funding will ensure that the Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network continues to provide accurate and reliable real-time hydrographic data to mariners and resource managers. |
