Reps. Gillard, Accavitti, Acciavatti, Adamini, Anderson, Ball, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrnes, Byrum, Clack, Clemente, Espinoza, Farrah, Garfield, Gleason, Gonzales, Hood, Hopgood, Hunter, Jones, Kehrl, Kolb, Kathleen Law, Leland, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Mayes, Meisner, Miller, Mortimer, Palsrok, Pearce, Phillips, Plakas, Polidori, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Sheltrown, Stakoe, Stewart, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Wojno, Kooiman and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 83.

A resolution commemorating June 4-12, 2005, as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Michigan and its economy are defined by the Great Lakes and depend on their great abundance of freshwater 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. Stopping the introduction and spread of these species would reduce the need of Michigan’s business, industry, and citizens to employ costly methods to control and manage them; and

Whereas, Over 160 non-indigenous aquatic invasive species have been introduced to the Great Lakes.  Many of these are displacing native species, disrupting habitats, and degrading natural, managed and agricultural landscapes. They also damage water-based infrastructure.  This damage results in millions of dollars for control efforts each year; and

Whereas, Michigan has over 1 million registered boaters. Michigan also has many other recreational, commercial, and industrial users of its over 11,000 lakes and ponds and over 36,000 miles of streams.  Many of these users 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 the Great Lakes from the irreversible damage caused by aquatic invasive species; now, therefore be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate June 4-12, 2005, as Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further

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

Resolved, That a copy 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.