Flow Water Advocates
@flowtc.bsky.social
We're a Great Lakes law and policy center, and our mission is to keep our waters healthy, public, and protected for all. Based in Traverse City, MI. www.flowwateradvocates.org
Flow Water Advocates welcomes Hope McLellan-Brandt as the inaugural Denis and Martha Pierce Environmental Law Fellow! 🎉 Hope brings strong environmental law credentials — a JD & master’s in environmental law & policy — and supports Flow’s legal fight to defend the Great Lakes.
Meet The Denis and Martha Pierce Environmental Law Fellow: Hope McLellan-Brandt - Flow Water Advocates
As Flow Water Advocates’ inaugural Denis and Martha Pierce Environmental Law Fellow, Hope McLellan-Brandt supports Flow’s legal work to defend the Great Lakes. She graduated from Vermont Law School in...
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Flow Water Advocates welcomes Hope McLellan-Brandt as the inaugural Denis and Martha Pierce Environmental Law Fellow! 🎉 Hope brings strong environmental law credentials — a JD & master’s in environmental law & policy — and supports Flow’s legal fight to defend the Great Lakes.
Flow Water Advocates has filed a brief with the Michigan Supreme Court challenging the permit for Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. They argue the Michigan Public Service Commission failed to uphold its public trust duties to protect Great Lakes waters.
Flow Water Advocates files Line 5 brief with the Michigan Supreme Court. - Flow Water Advocates
November 17, 2025 [ DOWNLOAD: Flow Water Advocates Brief on Appeal (PDF) ] Traverse City, Mich. — Flow Water Advocates (“Flow”) has filed a brief in its appeal of the Michigan Public Service Commiss...
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Flow Water Advocates has filed a brief with the Michigan Supreme Court challenging the permit for Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. They argue the Michigan Public Service Commission failed to uphold its public trust duties to protect Great Lakes waters.
Flow opposes Michigan’s House Bill 4385 — the “sandbag bill” — because it weakens shoreline protections, undercuts the Public Trust Doctrine, and could invite more long-lasting plastic pollution along the Great Lakes. flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-hou...
Flow opposes House Bill 4385, the "sandbag bill" - Flow Water Advocates
Why we oppose House Bill 4385: A threat to Michigan’s shorelines, the Public Trust, and the Great Lakes. House Bill 4385, currently being considered in the Michigan Legislature, would weaken critical ...
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Flow opposes Michigan’s House Bill 4385 — the “sandbag bill” — because it weakens shoreline protections, undercuts the Public Trust Doctrine, and could invite more long-lasting plastic pollution along the Great Lakes. flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-hou...
Water is essential to life — and access to clean, safe water is recognized as a human right by the United Nations. Yet billions still lack it, and threats to the Great Lakes — from pollution to privatization — make protecting our shared waters more urgent than ever.
Human Rights: The essential of water. - Flow Water Advocates
This month, people across the globe celebrated Human Rights Day. Every year on December 10th, the world celebrates the anniversary of “one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Univer...
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Water is essential to life — and access to clean, safe water is recognized as a human right by the United Nations. Yet billions still lack it, and threats to the Great Lakes — from pollution to privatization — make protecting our shared waters more urgent than ever.
Federal court just blocked Michigan’s effort to enforce Gov. Whitmer’s termination of the 1953 Line 5 easement — siding with Enbridge’s claim that federal law overrides the state’s public trust role in protecting the Great Lakes.
Federal District Court improperly blocks Michigan’s termination of the 1953 Line 5 pipeline easement. - Flow Water Advocates
Traverse City, Mich. — On December 17, the District Court for the Western District of Michigan issued its opinion in Enbridge v. Whitmer. The federal case was brought by the Canadian oil company to st...
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Federal court just blocked Michigan’s effort to enforce Gov. Whitmer’s termination of the 1953 Line 5 easement — siding with Enbridge’s claim that federal law overrides the state’s public trust role in protecting the Great Lakes.
For 14 years, Flow Water Advocates has stood for a simple truth: the Great Lakes belong to everyone. Not just this generation—or just humans—but the entire living water cycle. Support Flow’s work to protect our shared waters, for all time. flowwateradvocates.org/flow-water-a...
Flow Water Advocates celebrates 14 years of defending our waters. - Flow Water Advocates
by Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director For fourteen years, Flow Water Advocates has stood on a simple, powerful truth: The waters of the Great Lakes belong to everyone—and must be protected for all time....
flowwateradvocates.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:18 PM
For 14 years, Flow Water Advocates has stood for a simple truth: the Great Lakes belong to everyone. Not just this generation—or just humans—but the entire living water cycle. Support Flow’s work to protect our shared waters, for all time. flowwateradvocates.org/flow-water-a...
Michigan has some of the world’s richest freshwater—but bottled water companies profit while residents pay more. Big bottlers extract millions of gallons of public water for next to nothing, then sell it back at a markup, under weak oversight. flowwateradvocates.org/bottled-wate...
January 6, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Michigan has some of the world’s richest freshwater—but bottled water companies profit while residents pay more. Big bottlers extract millions of gallons of public water for next to nothing, then sell it back at a markup, under weak oversight. flowwateradvocates.org/bottled-wate...
The U.S. Army Corps is reviewing a Horizontal Directional Drilling alternative to building the proposed Enbridge Line 5 tunnel through the Mackinac Straits. Flow details several critical deficiencies in the Corps' analysis: flowwateradvocates.org/line-5-tunne...
December 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The U.S. Army Corps is reviewing a Horizontal Directional Drilling alternative to building the proposed Enbridge Line 5 tunnel through the Mackinac Straits. Flow details several critical deficiencies in the Corps' analysis: flowwateradvocates.org/line-5-tunne...
The Trump Admin has proposed a rule change that would open millions of acres of wetlands to development. But Michigan’s wetlands are better protected, thanks to a strong 1980 state law that helps defend Michigan’s 6.47 million wetland acres. flowwateradvocates.org/epa-army-cor...
December 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Trump Admin has proposed a rule change that would open millions of acres of wetlands to development. But Michigan’s wetlands are better protected, thanks to a strong 1980 state law that helps defend Michigan’s 6.47 million wetland acres. flowwateradvocates.org/epa-army-cor...
This month marks 5 years since Gov. Whitmer and the DNR revoked and terminated the 1953 easement that had allowed Enbridge to locate and operate its dual Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. Why is Line 5 still operating, and what happens next? flowwateradvocates.org/line-5-easem...
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This month marks 5 years since Gov. Whitmer and the DNR revoked and terminated the 1953 easement that had allowed Enbridge to locate and operate its dual Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. Why is Line 5 still operating, and what happens next? flowwateradvocates.org/line-5-easem...
We're taking the Line 5 pipeline tunnel to the Michigan Supreme Court. Here's why:
November 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
We're taking the Line 5 pipeline tunnel to the Michigan Supreme Court. Here's why:
Our priorities include water infrastructure funding, tackling nitrate contamination in drinking water, factory farm pollution, and the need for a statewide septic code. We track state budgets closely because they signal real-world priorities. Read more: flowwateradvocates.org/michigans-ne...
November 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Our priorities include water infrastructure funding, tackling nitrate contamination in drinking water, factory farm pollution, and the need for a statewide septic code. We track state budgets closely because they signal real-world priorities. Read more: flowwateradvocates.org/michigans-ne...
A staggering amount of factory farm animal wastes degrades our lakes, rivers, household wells, and other waters. If approved, the KB Dairy permit in Gratiot County would create the largest dairy CAFO in Michigan. flowwateradvocates.org/flow-opposes...
November 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
A staggering amount of factory farm animal wastes degrades our lakes, rivers, household wells, and other waters. If approved, the KB Dairy permit in Gratiot County would create the largest dairy CAFO in Michigan. flowwateradvocates.org/flow-opposes...
How are factory farms in Michigan impacting our lakes, rivers, wells, and other waters? We're on a mission to find out: flowwateradvocates.org/flow-appeals...
October 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
How are factory farms in Michigan impacting our lakes, rivers, wells, and other waters? We're on a mission to find out: flowwateradvocates.org/flow-appeals...
Did you know that Michigan's territory includes 38,000 square miles of Great Lakes surface and lakebed?
If Michigan's submerged lands were their own state, it would be bigger than Indiana.
If Michigan's submerged lands were their own state, it would be bigger than Indiana.
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Did you know that Michigan's territory includes 38,000 square miles of Great Lakes surface and lakebed?
If Michigan's submerged lands were their own state, it would be bigger than Indiana.
If Michigan's submerged lands were their own state, it would be bigger than Indiana.
Check out Flow's Policy Director Carolan Sonderegger's
latest opinion piece in the @detroitnews.com! The piece
highlights the importance of repairing Michigan's water
infrastructure and the state of its current condition.
Read it here: www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
latest opinion piece in the @detroitnews.com! The piece
highlights the importance of repairing Michigan's water
infrastructure and the state of its current condition.
Read it here: www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Check out Flow's Policy Director Carolan Sonderegger's
latest opinion piece in the @detroitnews.com! The piece
highlights the importance of repairing Michigan's water
infrastructure and the state of its current condition.
Read it here: www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
latest opinion piece in the @detroitnews.com! The piece
highlights the importance of repairing Michigan's water
infrastructure and the state of its current condition.
Read it here: www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
It's simple: When a company makes a mess, it should clean it up. Learn about how Michigan can (once again) hold polluters accountable: flowwateradvocates.org/policy-brief...
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It's simple: When a company makes a mess, it should clean it up. Learn about how Michigan can (once again) hold polluters accountable: flowwateradvocates.org/policy-brief...
Reposted by Flow Water Advocates
We've got news that's going to make you want to grab a paddle and celebrate: Troubled Water is coming to PBS stations across the entire country!
Learn more: www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/troubled_wat...
#ShutDownLine5
Learn more: www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/troubled_wat...
#ShutDownLine5
October 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
We've got news that's going to make you want to grab a paddle and celebrate: Troubled Water is coming to PBS stations across the entire country!
Learn more: www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/troubled_wat...
#ShutDownLine5
Learn more: www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/troubled_wat...
#ShutDownLine5
The Michigan Supreme Court will hear Flow's appeal of the Line 5 tunnel permit: flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-sup... #ShutDownLine5 #ShutDownLine5NoTunnel #publictrust
October 8, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The Michigan Supreme Court will hear Flow's appeal of the Line 5 tunnel permit: flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-sup... #ShutDownLine5 #ShutDownLine5NoTunnel #publictrust
The State of Michigan and its Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have the power to deny the tunnel permit, and protect the Great Lakes and Mackinac Straits from years of construction upheaval, wetlands damage, and other risks. flowwateradvocates.org/faqs-egle-li...
FAQs: Making public comments to EGLE on the Line 5 tunnel - Flow Water Advocates
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is taking public comments on Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 pipeline tunnel through August 29, 2025. The State of Michigan now has th...
flowwateradvocates.org
August 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The State of Michigan and its Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have the power to deny the tunnel permit, and protect the Great Lakes and Mackinac Straits from years of construction upheaval, wetlands damage, and other risks. flowwateradvocates.org/faqs-egle-li...
This Thursday, EGLE will hold a public hearing on the state permit governing the discharge of factory farm waste to our waters. To learn more about this issue and how you can submit your comments, watch (and share!) our video briefing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qICb...
Factory farm waste permits in Michigan - July 2025
YouTube video by Flow Water Advocates
youtu.be
August 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This Thursday, EGLE will hold a public hearing on the state permit governing the discharge of factory farm waste to our waters. To learn more about this issue and how you can submit your comments, watch (and share!) our video briefing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qICb...
Factory farms generate a staggering amount of waste, and it's hurting our waters. On Thursday at Noon, join us on Zoom for a briefing about the upcoming public hearing on factory farm waste permits in Michigan, and learn how you can make your voice heard. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
July 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Factory farms generate a staggering amount of waste, and it's hurting our waters. On Thursday at Noon, join us on Zoom for a briefing about the upcoming public hearing on factory farm waste permits in Michigan, and learn how you can make your voice heard. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Over 750 contaminated sites in Michigan need immediate attention to address human health risks -- but because of limited staff and funding, it will be years before all of the sites are addressed. flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-con...
July 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Over 750 contaminated sites in Michigan need immediate attention to address human health risks -- but because of limited staff and funding, it will be years before all of the sites are addressed. flowwateradvocates.org/michigan-con...
July 31 Webinar: Learn about how Michigan regulates factory farm waste discharges to our waters, and how you can make your voice heard: flowwateradvocates.org/factory-farm...
July 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
July 31 Webinar: Learn about how Michigan regulates factory farm waste discharges to our waters, and how you can make your voice heard: flowwateradvocates.org/factory-farm...
Did you know Great Lakes research helps protect the water you drink, the beaches you love, and the towns you call home? 🌊
From tracking pollutants to improving wastewater systems, scientists are making real impacts in coastal communities across the region. Read more!
From tracking pollutants to improving wastewater systems, scientists are making real impacts in coastal communities across the region. Read more!
From clean water to coastal towns, 6 ways Great Lakes research impacts you
The Great Lakes are a way of life in Michigan—a place for fun, recreation, enjoying nature and creating lasting memories with family and friends. While healthy lakes are critical for the state’s cultu...
seas.umich.edu
July 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Did you know Great Lakes research helps protect the water you drink, the beaches you love, and the towns you call home? 🌊
From tracking pollutants to improving wastewater systems, scientists are making real impacts in coastal communities across the region. Read more!
From tracking pollutants to improving wastewater systems, scientists are making real impacts in coastal communities across the region. Read more!