A new international committee of the Great Lakes Commission is digging for solutions to the problem of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.
The Lake Erie Nutrient Targets (LENT) Working Group includes representatives from the U.S. states of Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and the province of Ontario, who share responsibilities for water quality and rural nonpoint and agriculture conservation programs with the two federal governments.
The group’s aim is to identify existing programs, policies and practices that can be enhanced, modified or augmented to improve water quality in Lake Erie. A joint action plan or series of recommendations for the five states and province is expected later this year.
The Working Group grew out of a resolution adopted by the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) at its September 2014 annual meeting in Buffalo, N.Y.
Algal blooms have been a problem on Lake Erie for years. Credit: NOAA
The Lake Erie Water Pollution resolution acknowledges the challenges associated with algal blooms and toxins like microcystin that fouled drinking water for Toledo residents in August 2014.
States and provinces have the primary responsibility for implementing clean water programs that address the multiple sources of phosphorus. These entities also are in the best position to find solutions to reduce nutrient loadings that contribute to harmful algal blooms and other ecological problems in Lake Erie.
The efforts being undertaken by the Working Group are in line with objectives set forth in the U.S. Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States.
The IJC also made related recommendations to the Canadian and U.S. governments under a Lake Erie Ecosystem Priority (LEEP) report, released in February 2014.
The Working Group is partnering with an Annex 4 Subcommittee of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which is defining Lake Erie nutrient targets to be set by 2016.
During the first half of this year, the Working Group and Annex 4 Subcommittee will document existing federal, state and provincial water quality management policies and programs that can help achieve load reduction targets for Lake Erie; and identify areas of improvement within existing programs and authorities that are agreeable to all Lake Erie jurisdictions.
The Working Group also will examine key policy documents, consult with regional policy leaders, and conduct interviews with state, regional and national leaders to identify innovative and promising policies, programs and practices for improving water quality in the lake.
From these efforts, a joint action plan will be developed, with specific actions that can refine and sharpen the effectiveness and sustainability of existing policies and programs. The plan also may call for new approaches to achieve Lake Erie phosphorus reduction targets and otherwise meet water quality objectives.
The Working Group is expected to produce an interim report to the Great Lakes governors and premiers by June 2015, and a final report by September 2015.
The hope is that this joint action plan will be endorsed by the Lake Erie states and Ontario, and will help guide future regulatory and non-regulatory approaches for improving water quality and safeguarding drinking water in Lake Erie and our other Great Lakes.
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