“It’s very reassuring to us in Michigan to have a Great Lakes senator running for president,” she said. “In contrast, we have John McCain who comes from a state that would like our water.”

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, who is chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, said protecting the Great Lakes is key to the region’s economic success. Recreational activities supported by the lakes generate $4.5 billion per year.

“Our economy depends on strong and healthy Great Lakes,” he said.

A key component of Obama’s plan is the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement between the governors of the eight states bordering the Great Lakes to prevent diversions of water to other states.

The plan has been approved by the U.S. Senate and is expected to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, Stabenow said.

“The key thing will be fully implementing this,” Stabenow said. “We want to make sure we have a president that’s fully committed.”

Representatives for McCain could not be reached for comment on Obama’s plan.

In addition to creating the trust fund and adhering to the Great Lakes Compact, the five-point plan from the U.S. senator from Illinois includes measures to:

-Designate a Great Lakes Coordinator to sync local, state and federal policies.

-Reduce toxic deposits in the Great Lakes, particularly mercury.

-Institute a “zero tolerance” policy to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.

Carol Swinehart, communications manager for Michigan Sea Grant, a research collaboration between MSU and U-M, said $5 billion won’t fully fund restoration efforts, but it is an improvement upon the federal government’s lack of attention in recent years.

“In 2005 … we thought we had a serious mandate to come up with a plan that would do what needs to be done,” she said. “We were told, ‘Oh, go back and figure out what you can do within the next couple years with the money you already have.’”

Last week, members of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition called upon Obama and McCain to adhere to a plan they proposed in November to offer at least $20 billion for Great Lakes projects.

Jeff Skelding, the coalition’s national campaign director, issued a statement Monday supporting Obama’s plan, but expressed hope that it will grow more comprehensive as the candidates try to “outdo each other.”

“The next president needs to take decisive action to confront the serious threats facing the Great Lakes,” Skelding stated. “This support should include fully funding in five years the comprehensive effort to restore the Great Lakes.”

Sean Donovan, a physiology senior and member of Eco, MSU’s student sustainability organization, said he is glad to see a candidate taking an interest in the Great Lakes. Donovan said protecting the lakes prevents our generation from facing the consequences in the future.

“We’ve obviously seen the value that we have now that the Southwest is vying for position and trying to buy (water) from us,” he said. “The value will stay there as long as we can keep it around.”