June 25, 2026

Ohio Environmental Council Calls For Better Solutions to Harmful Algae Bloom  

For Immediate Release:  
June 25, 2026

  

Contact:  
Karlena Wallace, Communications Director  
media@theoec.org 614-487-7506  

Ohio Environmental Council Calls For Better Solutions to Harmful Algae Bloom  

Columbus, Ohio — The NOAA Lake Erie HAB forecast projects a moderate bloom this year, with a severity index of 3.5, below the very severe threshold of 7+ and an expected July onset consistent with recent seasons. This shows that while the bloom has been trending down from previous years, in part through H2Ohio making some progress on nutrient reductions, it’s still not enough to prevent the recurring toxic blooms we can now predict almost to the week. We need to accelerate upstream solutions so farmers, communities, and the Lake aren’t stuck reacting to the same crisis every summer. 

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Emily Arthur, Agriculture and Water Manager for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC): 

“We’re still treating HABs like a seasonal event instead of a long-term pollution challenge. Forecasts arrive every summer like weather reports, but unlike weather, HABs are preventable.

“The forecast is a reminder that the real work happens upstream—and farmers are key partners in that progress.

“Ohio has made real progress through programs like H2Ohio, and farmers are stepping up. But this year’s HAB forecast shows we’re still not reducing phosphorus at the pace needed to protect Lake Erie. We can predict these blooms with incredible accuracy. What we need now is the same level of predictability in our long-term nutrient reduction commitments.” 

  

  

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The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) protects the environment and health of all Ohio communities through legal and policy advocacy, decision-maker accountability, and civic engagement.