Plan to fight harmful algal blooms released

SANDUSKY — The Ohio EPA has released its plan for curbing nutrient pollution in Lake Erie, a key to reducing the size of the lake's harmful algal blooms.The Ohio Environmental Council says the plan falls short of what's needed and that mandatory regulations need to be imposed on Ohio farms to curb Ohio algal blooms.Ohio has signed an agreement with Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario to reduce the amount of phosphorus in Lake Erie by 20 percent by 2020, and by 40 percent by 2025. Scientists said such a reduction would help scale back harmful algal blooms, which can produce toxins that threaten water supplies for coastal cities.Waves roll into the shore at Lions Park in Sandusky on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.The Ohio EPA said the plan's key provisions include:• Identifying the priority watersheds which feed nutrients into Lake Erie, so that efforts can focus on the action where it's needed.• Encouraging best management practices by farmers applying fertilizer to farm fields. Additionally, promote curbing pollution from cities and industries.• Identifying and fixing septic tank systems that aren't working• Improving the coordination of various state programs aimed at maintaining Lake Erie's health.The Ohio EPA said responsibility for carrying out the plan is on several state agencies. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is supposed to coordinate efforts by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as well as the Ohio EPA.The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is supposed to coordinate efforts by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as well as the Ohio EPA.Kristy Meyer, managing director of natural resources for the Ohio Environmental Council, said the plan isn't tough enough."We are happy to see Ohio follow through on its commitment to develop a plan to address toxic algae," Meyer said. "Unfortunately, this long overdue plan does not rein in agricultural pollution, which is the main cause of toxic algae."Meyer told the Register Thursday that her group believes medium and large corporate farms should be required to adopt pollution control plans mandating that only necessary amounts of manure or fertilizer will be put into the soil.There should be audits to make sure the plans are being followed and enforcement when problems are found, Meyer said."This isn't going to kill farming," Meyer said.She said saving the lake is important to the state's economy. That's because the lake is a huge factor in Ohio tourism as well as being a main source for drinking water.Waves roll into the shore at Lions Park in Sandusky on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.