Ohio plan to cut Lake Erie Algae

The State plans a 40 percent reduction in the phosphorus runoff that fuels the algae in the lake’s western end.

TOLEDO: Ohio’s strategy for taking a big bite out of what’s feeding the toxic algae in Lake Erie will lean heavily on programs and regulations put in place during the last few years and making sure they work.

The plan does not include any new regulations on the farm industry or additional money, but it does suggest coming up with a comprehensive funding plan for programs targeting the algae blooms threatening drinking water.

It also calls for more water quality monitoring and oversight to determine what’s most effective, said Karl Gebhardt, deputy director for water resources at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

“We’ve done a lot in the western Lake Erie basin, but have we recognized an improvement in water quality?” he said. “We need to see if that’s happening, find out why or why not and we need to be not afraid to make changes.”

The plan rolled out Wednesday is the state’s blueprint for reaching a 40 percent reduction in the phosphorus runoff that fuels the algae in the lake’s western end.

Ohio, Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario signed a deal last year to sharply reduce the runoff within the next 10 years.

It’s a significant step in the efforts to slow down the algae blooms — linked to phosphorus from farm fertilizers, livestock manure and sewage treatment plants — that have been popping up more and more during the summer.

The blooms have contaminated drinking water supplies, turned the waters a shade of green that looks like pea soup and contributed to oxygen-deprived dead zones where fish can’t survive.

Ohio officials estimate that $2 billion has been spent on drinking water treatment and reducing nutrients going into the state’s part of the lake since 2011.

It’s possible that some programs that aren’t effective could lose funding, said Gebhardt, who was put in charge of overseeing Lake Erie water issues last year.

He also said it will be important to manage expectations, saying the plan aimed at phosphorus needs to flexible as they figure out what works and what doesn’t and as new technology develops.

The plan also will look into putting more rural and agriculture land into long-term conservation programs designed to reduce farm runoff.

Some of the changes the state has made still are being put in place. They include prohibiting farmers in northwestern Ohio from spreading manure on frozen and rain-soaked fields and requiring training before they can use commercial fertilizers.

Other aspects of the plan include continuing to make improvements at waste water treatment plants, fixing leaking septic systems and restoring wetlands.

Chris Weaver, a dairy farmer from Montpelier, said there needs to be a comprehensive effort that looks at all contributors to the problem.

“It’s easy to be negative and focus on one industry,” he said. “It’s a really complicated issue. It’s going to be hard to make sure we’re putting money in the right places.”

A final version of the plan is expected in mid-July following a monthlong period to collect comments from the public and make any revisions.

Source: Ohio

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Taxonomy

• Algaecides
• Algae
• Algae Treatment