Statement from the Ohio Environmental Council on the Impairment Status of the Western Basin of Lake Erie

Columbus, Ohio — The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Peter Bucher, Water Resources Director at the Ohio Environmental Council:

“I want to thank the Ohio EPA for declaring the open waters of the western Lake Erie basin impaired. With annual algal blooms in the western Lake Erie basin showing no signs of slowing down, it’s clear that more concrete measures are needed to reduce phosphorus. We are hopeful this news will lead to substantial nutrient reductions and ultimately, a cleaner Lake Erie.”

“To truly reach our state’s 40% nutrient reduction goal, we need a large-scale program that has the resources to implement best management practices on every acre of land in the basin. Without the resources to implement such a plan and measure progress, we will likely see Lake Erie and local communities inundated by yearly large-scale algal blooms for the foreseeable future.”