Five years ago, when similar proposals were made to close the Great Lakes to ocean going ships (responsible for three-quarters of almost 200 invasives so far identified), proponents were ridiculed. This despite a study from Grand Valley State University that parallels Cox's findings....that the cost of transferring cargo was minimal compared to the damage it would prevent.

The cynic in my would say that support would not be so broad were a conservative president the one blocking the closure. The optimist takes the support wherever and however it comes!

I hope we are successful. And I hope a similar broad spectrum of support will be generated for securing the other end of our Great Lakes!