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Bank on Nature for
Economic Opportunity
By Patty Cantrell
A rising rate of
homeownership is the surest sign that a neighborhood is making its way
out of poverty. No longer are families willing to give away a third or
more of their monthly income to a landlord and scrape by year after year.
They are using their cash — their liquid assets — to build equity
in their homes, finance their children’s educations, and save for
a comfortable retirement.
The same story applies to communities across Michigan, where residents
regularly give away valuable natural resources for short-term gain and
pay dearly for it later. Public health and safety costs related to pollution
soak up tax revenue communities could invest in education, the arts, and
health care.
The cover package in this issue of the Great Lakes Bulletin tells
how metropolitan Detroit is now saving its natural resources so it can
invest in long-term prosperity. The region is learning that streambanks,
wetlands, woods, and open space provide more rain absorption, erosion
protection, and pollution filtering services than money can buy. Detroit’s
future depends on saving, not spending, its natural liquid assets.
New options
As you’ll read in Keith Schneider’s fine piece about the comeback
of Detroit’s Rouge River, 48 communities in Oakland, Washtenaw, and
Wayne counties came to this conclusion after looking into the future and
seeing only exorbitant and endless costs of maintaining and upgrading
the area’s massive storm sewer system. They realized that continuing
to cover streambanks, wetlands, woods, and farmland in concrete for short-term
development and tax gain would only generate more beach closings, sewage
backups, and storm sewer expense.
The 48 communities — with the oversight of a perceptive and persistent
U.S. District Court judge — now have done something virtually unprecedented
in this country. They have come up with a common strategy for employing
their natural liquid assets now to save taxpayers later. They’re
still spending billions on necessary system upgrades, but they’re
working hard to reduce the pressure of stormwater and sewage pollution
by using nature’s water retention and cleansing powers.
The reason for this natural economic approach to improving Detroit’s
future, however, is not purely financial or legal (a federal court case
brought the communities together). The inspiration that keeps the Rouge
River project growing — and now expanding to areas beyond the three
counties — is a vision of Detroit’s future as a vibrant city
built on the power and beauty of clean, accessible water.
The metropolitan area, which has been covering its streambanks in concrete
for so long, now is rediscovering the value of water — one of its
most abundant resources — for renewing its quality of life and attracting
people from all over the world. If new housing and business development
works with nature instead of against it, metropolitan residents can enjoy
the woods and water and have more money to enrich the city with investments
in schools, the arts, and economic opportunities.
Money management
Communities across Michigan stand at the same crossroads. Filled wetlands
lead in one direction to costly stormwater pollution. Homes that preserve
natural vegetation along streams lead in the other direction to communities
with more green on their land and in their bank accounts.
But making the prosperous future happen is a matter of setting long-term
goals and coming up with a resource management strategy. It’s the
same thing families do if they want to stop renting and start reaping
the benefits of home ownership. The Rouge River story is a living example
for communities across Michigan. It demonstrates in dollars and common
sense how to start building wealth by saving and investing in nature’s
strengths. 
Cover report >>
