By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff reporter
CHICAGO -- Environmental advocates have argued that restoring the Great Lakes is good for the economy. Now they have the figures to prove it.
According to a new report, a $26 billion investment over the next five years would create $50 billion in long-term economic benefit for the region. Researchers behind the study also say short-term economic activity from clean-up of the Great Lakes would generate an additional $30 billion to $50 billion and create thousands of jobs.
"This new report confirms in dollars and cents that the health of the Great Lakes economy depends on the health of the Great Lakes," said Bob Litan, a Brookings Institution senior fellow, who led the researchers who conducted the study, funded by the Joyce Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Consumers Energy Foundation and Dow Chemical Foundation.
The majority of the cost, $13 billion to $14 billion, would go to upgrade municipal treatment plants to reduce combined sewer overflows. The rest would be used to stop invasive species, clean up contaminated sediment in areas of high concern, and restore and protect wildlife habitat.
"Right now there are many signs that the Great Lakes are unhealthy: sewage in the lakes, invasive species, long-term deposits of toxic chemicals and disappearing habitats for wildlife. These are especially evident in the national parks along the lakes, such as Indiana Dunes," said Tom Kierman, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. "Unhealthy lakes mean fewer people can enjoy these national parks that are the treasures of the region."
The economic benefits would come from tourism, the fishing industry, recreation and increases in home and property values as a result of fewer beach closings and improved water quality.
Researchers said the $50 billion economic impact of implementing the 2004 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy is "a very conservative estimate" because some benefits aren't quantifiable, for instance impacts on human health, increase in commercial property values and overall job creation.
"However, job impacts in the region are likely to be significant. For example, the multibillion dollar investment to modernize wastewater treatment facilities to prevent sewage overflows into the lakes would generate approximately 185,000 short-term jobs in the construction industry," Litan said.
Regional governmental and environmental leaders discussed the restoration plan at the third annual Great Lakes Restoration conference Friday in Chicago, but admitted there are several challenges, the biggest one being funding.
Mike McCabe, Midwest director of The Council of State Governments, pointed out that Great Lakes restoration has to compete for state legislators' attention with other priorities.
David Ullrich, executive director for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, expressed optimism that the project would happen, but said it's hard to rally the public around something that's not a single environmental issue.