Senator Basham offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 117.

            A resolution commemorating June 3-11, 2006, as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in Michigan.

            Whereas, Michigan and its economy are defined by the Great Lakes and depend on its great abundance of fresh water for manufacturing, tourism, fishing, public water supplies, agriculture, and numerous other uses; and

            Whereas, Preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species ultimately benefits the state of Michigan, and stopping the introduction and spread of these species would reduce the need of the state of Michigan, business, industry, and citizens to employ costly methods to control and manage them; and

            Whereas, Over 160 nonindigenous aquatic invasive species have been introduced to the Great Lakes; many of which are displacing native species, disrupting habitats, and degrading natural, managed, and agricultural landscapes and damaging water-based infrastructure, resulting in millions of dollars for control efforts each year; and

            Whereas, Michigan has almost 1 million registered boaters and many other recreational, commercial, and industrial users of over 11,000 lakes and ponds and over 36,000 miles of streams in the state, many of which are impacted by aquatic invasive species; and

            Whereas, Aquatic invasive species awareness is an important first step towards behavior change, which prevents the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species; and

            Whereas, The introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species must be addressed by all levels of government, business, industry, environmental groups, community organizations, and citizens to protect Michigan and Great Lakes waters from the irreversible damage caused by aquatic invasive species; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby commemorate June 3-11, 2006, as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week; and be it further

            Resolved, That we urge all citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of aquatic invasive species and their ecological and economic impacts and take preventative measures to stop the spread and introduction of aquatic invasive species; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of the Great Lakes, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Council of Great Lakes Governors, Michigan congressional delegation, and the Great Lakes Commission.