2000

• MCWC was organized
• Governor Engler and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) granted Nestlé Waters North America a permit to withdraw 400 gallons per minute in Mecosta, MI.
• Local residents express strong opposition in Mecosta County against Nestlé.
• Attorney General Granholm opposes Nestlé’s diversion of Michigan spring water.

2002

• MCWC files lawsuit in Mecosta County Circuit Court.

2003

• 19-day trial ending in Judge Lawrence Root ordering Nestlé to close down unreasonable use of groundwater, causing environmental impairment.

2004

• Nestlé wins a “stay” from the Michigan Court of Appeals with the help of Governor Granholm and other agencies and is allowed to pump 250 gallons per minute.

2005

• Michigan Court of Appeals Upholds Trial Court’s Scientific Findings of Environmental Harm.
• The Michigan Court of Appeals legally ruled that a “balancing test” must be applied between homeowners (riparians) and Nestlé, sharing the water.
• An out-of-court settlement is reached between Nestlé and MCWC, establishing an average pumping rate of 218 gallons per minute.

2006

• Michigan passes a weak Great Lakes water protection act that exempts bottled water from being a diversion as long as the container is less than 5.7 gallons.

2007

• Michigan Supreme Court rules that, contrary to the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA), only residents who are immediately impacted can sue for environmental harm.
• MCWC keeps its standing on the Dead Stream and Thompson Lake, but loses its standing to sue regarding the wetlands and Osprey Lake.
• The Great Lakes Compact was passed by Michigan and then by the US Congress.

2008

• Michigan passes yet another weak water law, with limited impact standards, allowing withdrawals of 1 million gallons, and exempts 5.7-gallon containers and smaller as a diversion.

2009

• MCWC and Nestlé settle out of court again
• For the next 19 years, pumping limits are in place to protect the Dead Stream and Thompson Lake.

2010

• A new MCWC Board of Directors was elected for a two-year term.

2011

• The MCWC Board of Directors proposed and approved the following resolution: Therefore, be it resolved that Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation hereby opposes any further horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations in Michigan.

2012

• MCWC continues to represent its members as the board engages in researching and educating citizens on hydrofracking, or fracking.