I was one of about 300 people who attended today's Great Lakes Compact hearing at Caroll University in Waukesha. Waukesha is requesting a 10.1 million gallons a day diversion from Lake Michigan, which it can do because it sits in a "straddling county." The Compact says that communities in straddling counties can apply—but only under strict conditions. Today was fascinating and destined to be an important part of Great Lakes history.

For the first hour Waukesha and the Wisconsin DNR presented the Waukesha case. After that it was 3 hours of comments, overwhelmingly opposed. Above, Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee stating his opposition.

A more in-depth write up will be forthcoming.