Great Lakes United, an international coalition to protect the Great Lakes, disagrees with the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board that water loss in the Great Lakes is owing to natural causes, not man-made, and has asked the board to change its recommendation that nothing be done to correct conditions in the St. Clair River.

In a response to the board's draft report, "Impacts on Upper Great Lakes Water Levels: St. Clair River," the New York-based group asks that the board change its two primary recommendations: that no action is needed to correct dredging of the St. Clair River because the dredging didn't contribute to continuing water loss from the upper lakes, and that water loss mitigation should be studied only in view of climate changes.

In its comments filed August 1, Great Lakes United contends that the board should acknowledge the man-made effects on water loss, caused by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and that mitigation studies should include compensating for that damage, in addition to mitigating losses owing to the climate.

The Les Cheneaux Islands Association, several years ago, joined the Georgian Bay Association of Canada in calling for the study.

The draft report was released in may and a final report is due to be published this fall, following public comments solicited through the summer.