Michigan Apple Association Advocacy

Currently, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) uses an outdated system to measure water use. That, coupled with a lack of trust between farmers and state authorities, is negatively impacting farms and businesses who use wells in their day-to-day operations.

Michigan growers rely on fair, accurate decisions when it comes to high‑capacity wells. But the State’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT) isn’t built for the role it’s now being asked to play.

WWAT was designed as a broad online screening tool to flag areas that might be sensitive to large water withdrawals. It works fine for that purpose. The problem is that the State is now using this simplified model to make final decisions in Site‑Specific Reviews.

The model doesn’t account for many real‑world factors that affect streamflow, and its one‑size‑fits‑all formula can’t be corrected just by adding more data. That means growers may face decisions based on predictions that don’t reflect actual field conditions.

Limited on‑the‑ground data, no appeals process, no independent peer review, and little accountability further undermine confidence in the system. For growers who depend on reliable water access to run their farms, these gaps create uncertainty where clarity is needed most.

MAA position:

Water Districts can meet the need to collect data and build models for Site-Specific Reviews and the imminent Water User Committees.

Water Districts are made up of local water users who collect real data from the aquifers and streams in their own communities. With support from hydrogeologists, each District builds practical, locally informed models that reflect actual conditions on the ground. District Boards are elected from within the community, ensuring decisions stay rooted in local experience.

Districts focus on four key tasks:

• Measure water resources to understand what’s available and establish baselines.
• Monitor seasonal and year‑to‑year trends to track changes over time.
• Model long‑term impacts using reasonable predictions verified with real‑world data.
• Build a community of responsible water stewards.

This cooperative, community‑driven approach is designed to build trust in the data, the models, and the process—while EGLE still retains final decision‑making authority.

Call to action:

To learn more or get involved, start by visiting https://www.waterdistrictssolution.com/ to get more information and share it with your colleagues in the industry.