OPINION Page 4 Wednesday, October 17, 1984 The Michigan Daily _9 The unlawful use of the Huron River By Daniel Bicknell The Huron River with it's lakes, im- poundments, and tributaries is used ex- tensively by the public for swimming, canoeing, wind surfing, and fishing. The ability to use rivers for public pur- poses dates back as far as the doctrine of public trust which traced the asser- tion of public right in water courses and shores from Roman Law through the Magna Carta. As England and English commerce grew, statutes and case. judgements continued to expand the public's rights and control over the nation's water resources. This developed into a public trust theory of tidal and navigable waters. This theory stated that the public has certain im- portant rights to water resources, those rights superceding any conflicting private rights-including those of the protector of public and common rights, the King. Continuing this expansion of public rights, the Michigan Legislature passed the Michigan Water Quality Standards of 1973. These standards passed with the doctrine of public trust in mind and established requirements of water quality for the Great Lakes region and its surface waters, "which shall protect the public health and welfare and maintain the quality of water for recreational purposes, and water sup- plies." The Huron River at Geddes pond and Ford and Belleville lakes were designated in this legislation to be protected for "total body contact" recreational usage. The term total body contact means that the river should be swimmable and the bacterial indicators, a measure for dangerous disease conditions, should be less than 200 organisms per 100 ml sample of water. No harm to the public should result from enjoying the waters because of disease organisms. To this date none of these bodies of water meets this criteria and all, Geddes pond, Ford Lake, and Belleville Lake are not being considered as safe, wholly swimmable bodies of water. GEDDES POND on the Huron River is used for wind surfing, canoeing, fishing, and swimming by many of the local citizens. The high number of bac- teria, viruses, and other disease causing agents in the river has presen- ted a health problem, created by a number of systems that discharge wastes and community collected runoff into the river system. This mass of pollution has rendered Geddes Pond un- fit for swimming without a substantial health risk. According to recent studies the level of fecal coliforms-an in- dicator measure of disease present species-has a wide range from 60 to over 10,000 fecal coliforms per 100 ml depending on varying conditions. The set standard level of fecal coliform organisms at which a health risk is present is 200 organisms per 100 ml. This standard consequently indicates that Geddes Pond, often with levels above 2000 organisms per 100 ml, represents a definite public health problem. There is much debate over this problem since both Ford and Belleville Lakes have similar levels. Barry Johnson, Director of Environ- mental Health for the Washtenaw County Public Health Department says: "a hazard can be there-in the Huron River with significant urban run-off which has all kinds of organisms that can produce disease. After watching the wind surfers I would have to categorize it definitely as a full - body contact water sport. The water quality does vary in Ged- des Pond as well as Ford and Belleville Lakes and one doesn't know from time to time if you are in the safe ball park range of fecal coliform disease organism counts. We have no information on actual ill cases and unfor- tunately no system of reporting those types of diseases so it can be brought to our attention." James Murray, the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner, responsible for the county's water quality, states "No, there is not a bacterial problem in Ford Lake, the State is responsible for gathering that type of information." The Drain Commissioner's office ac- cording to the Drain Code of 1956, "may make and cause to make surveys, studies, and investigations for the pur- pose of investigating subjects to abate pollution or decrease the danger of flooding for the review and approval of the Water Resources Commission," which is the body of government responsible for carrying out the state water laws. The drain commissioner is "to study our waters for the protection of public health and general habitat." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Planning Division published its findings in December, 1983 and cited Geddes Pond for "violation of fecal coliform densities and other water quality state standar- ds." The report continues "in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti reach the most significant cause of poor quality in the Huron was point sources and urban stormwater run-off." This recently 4 4 A9 Daily Photo by DAVID FRANKEL The pristine beauty of the Huron River masks a potentially serious public health problem. distributed report matches other repor- ts on Washtenaw County's water, showing human wastes fouling the Huron River today. None of the public officials were aware, however, that Geddes Pond and Ford and Belleville Lakes were protec- ted for total body contact recreation by the Michigan state water laws. Mr. Messerli, with the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation department, said "why should the state allow swimming if it is not acceptable because of the poor water quality. We in the department do not plan on having any swimming in the park at Geddes pond." The present plans for Ford and Belleville Lakes consider only certain spots along the two lake fronts for swimming and do not consider wind surfing, waterskiing, or general swimming as part of their improvement proposals for the lake impoundments in the future. The lawful use of the Huron River mandates that protection be given- to the public in its rightful use of the waters. Corrective measures must be taken to protect the river so that everyone can enjoy what God has given- us. Bicknell is a candidate for Washtenaw County Drain Com- missioner and a graduate student in Public Health. I Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Vol. XCV, No. 36 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Sinclair AMERICAN4 ouRrLusX! -1 i E F E N T AQAC A K C V R C A ~TrfE MILITA iON Will.. CA E IN OPERATrOqsM Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board I A step toward peace A LAWYER IN La Palma, El Salvador Monday aptly summed up the progress toward peace made in that region: "Now, we have gotten past the stupid pride stage where one side wouldn't talk to the other because it was a sign of weakness. Maybe this can serve as an example for other Cen- tral American countries, like Guatemala or Nicaragua." The hopes of this single man are undoubtedly shared by the people of El Salvador and by all' peace-loving nations. And there is a good chance that the people's wish for peace can now become a reality. Earlier this week, Salvadoran government officials took a big first step when they met with guerrilla leaders in La Palma. They came out of the meeting agreeing to form a joint commission seeking an end to their country's five-year war. More than 50,000 civilian lives have been taken and warfare has become almost a way of life to the people. But never a welcome lifestyle. While University students and Detroit Tigers fans may find other reasons to celebrate, the citizens of El Salvador had a nightlong party just considering the prospect of an end to the deaths of their friends and loved ones. The agreement reached between the government leaders and the guerrillas is, however, far from ideal. There was no cease-fire proposed by the two op- posing sides. But the new commission will have four government and four rebel officials who will study ideas presented by both sides on how to put an end to the current armed conflict. It is, indeed, an important move toward peace. "We believe it is the first step of a positive dialogue in a difficult situation," said one guerilla political leader. While President Jose Napoleon Duarte commented: "I'm ready to listen. Let's start. I want to break the ice, start listening, talking, and looking for solutions." With attitudes such as these on both sides, it is a wonder that negotiations could not have gotten un- derway any sooner. Both sides have shown the commitment to negotiate. The test will be if they can translate this into a peaceful solution. The Detroit Tigers won the World Series and to me it was not a good thing. I wonder if it was that good a thing to all the Tiger fans who "celebrated" in Detroit and Ann Arbor on Sunday night. I am sure they thought it was a good thing and I am sure it brought them joy. But somewhere in the in- tangible and surreal area bet- weenthe Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Tigers fan, this joy was transformed, indeed maligned. It is precisely that distance from the event that caused their hap- piness to vent itself in the cloak of destruction. No longer are aggression and violence the out- come of anger. It is rather distressing to realize that they can be the product of happiness as well. I question the value of the Tigers "victory" because the events following the competition take the situation out of the realm of sports and necessarily place it in a social context. I question the victory because it makes me refer to it as a victory. Exactly who did we beat? The nine Padres, or the whole team in- cluding those players who sat in the dugout? Did the Padres, owner win? Did we beat the city of San Diego? Did we beat the The all too. violent results of baseball frustration By Gary Meister Recognizing autumn T AKE A LOOK out the window some time this week. The autumn glow is not to be missed. Someone has painted the trees in orange-yellow hues and they stand, elegant and precious, demanding to be observed. Oc- casionally a gust of wind will reach up into the branches, scattering the colors about the ground for curious, ruddy- cites the nostrils. Get out a warm sweater. The kind days of summer have been nipped by Jack Frost changing into an in- vigorating chill that calls for some defense. Autumn is not just for a minute's contemplation. The golden richness of t hav. fnr mnre than hastv of saying we were a part of this too, c'mon look at us, please look at us. This violence could not have occured after a regular game, or even after a pennant victory. It is when the big game is over, the biggest game, that the fan realizes he or she is no part of it, that it would have hap- pened without him or her, that they have no clear idea of who or what the Tigers are, that the violencehas to occur. It is this unconscious realization, and the desire for at- tention and power that makes a Tiger fan burn a police car. This violence is indicative of the viw Mu ,nT TWTqr futility in identification with in- tangible, undefined ideals such as the Detroit Tigers, the American Flag, the Republican Party, or Jesus Christ. Government en- courages the forsaking of the self to a larger entity. There are- a million things you can take or use to fill up the emptiness that comes with the self, that comes with solitude. The realization of choice is so overwhelming that it becomes necessary to give your- self over to the crowd's whims and desires. The Detroit Free Press described the championship as an opportunity for Detroit to forget about crime and soup kit- chens for a while. That is absurd for today we will use baseball tomorrow the television, the next day alcohol etc. If the champion-. ship were truly a good thing' it seems to me that it would fill the heart with love, with positivism and would move some people to a deeper awareness of and concern for these problems. An old African sage once said that people want two things: to feel that they are better than someone else and to drink beer.. Baseball affords one both these opportunities. Personally, I do not understand it. I don't know the players on the Tigers team and I don't know why they call themselves Tigers. I imagine the Padres got their name from John Birch. I don't even want to think about where basketbal's Washington Bullets got their name or the implications of that ridiculousness. I hope people will consider their violence and destruc- tiveness and I hope I can someday enjoy sports that-are fun and devoid of male violence and frustration. Meister is a senior in LSA. by Re.1re Rreathed