Great Lakes need Nelson's vision again

"Once it seemed we could only destroy the water in our rivers, but now we are organized, and mechanized, and automated, and now we are embarked on a systematic campaign to destroy the greatest source of fresh water on the face of the earth -- the Great Lakes themselves." -- Gaylord Nelson, 1965.

Nelson wasn't being an alarmist when he issued that warning 40 years ago. In large part because of his efforts, the tide of pollution in the Great Lakes was reversed, at least temporarily, and steps were taken to protect our amazing water resource. The Great Lakes contain 90% of the nation's fresh water supply and about one-fifth of the fresh surface water in the world.

Despite their mammoth size, the Great Lakes' eco-system is fragile.

Jim Rowen, in a Capital Times op ed, connects Nelson's legacy with the current US-Canada water agreement, which needs our attention.