http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/environment-and-safety/feds-and-province-tackle-algae-in-lake-erie-commit-to-cutting-phosphorus-by-40-per-cent-187822/
[Cutting phosphorus input while the waters keep warming will have a
minimal impact on the blooms which are about the phosphorus already
present in the lakes. We need to address the blooms directly, probably
for at least a couple of decades. For that, I have a plan.]
Battle against Lake Erie algae: governments commit to cutting phosphorus 40%
Excessive phosphorus is the primary cause of algae in Lake Erie, which
is harmful to humans, animals and the environment; a plan to reduce
phosphorus levels has been put to the public for consultation until May
March 10, 2017
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
OTTAWA—As the weather gets warmer and spring approaches, provincial and
federal officials are already looking towards summer, when harmful and
annoying algae can choke our Great Lakes.
On Mar. 10, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario
released a draft action plan to reduce phosphorus in Lake Erie by 40 per
cent, to stem the growth of toxic algae in the lake.
Reducing the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Erie is the best way to
minimize algal blooms, which can be harmful to human health and the
environment. While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant and
animal life, scientists have identified that excess phosphorus is the
cause of algal blooms in the lake.
Phosphorus enters Lake Erie from many sources, including runoff from
urban centres, agricultural lands, sewage treatment plants, airborne
particles, septic systems and industrial discharges.
Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the
Great Lakes, and the high amount of phosphorus it receives makes it
highly sensitive to blue-green algae—which can contain harmful toxins.
The plan released by the feds and the province identifies actions that
can be taken by governments, conservation authorities, Indigenous
communities and partners in key sectors, such as agriculture and
industry, to achieve the goal of reducing phosphorus in Lake Erie by 40
per cent.
Stakeholders and community members are encouraged to comment on the
draft action plan before May. 9 2017. This input will inform the final
action plan for the Canadian side of Lake Erie, an initiative that
supports Ontario’s Great Lakes Protection Act.
“This proposed action plan to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Erie is
based on collaboration with our partners to ensure that Lake Erie
remains drinkable, swimmable and fishable,” said Glen Murray, Ontario
minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
Through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the U.S. are
committed to finalizing domestic action plans for Lake Erie by February
2018.
Given the Trump administration’s recent decision to slash funding to the
American Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by as much as 97 per cent,
the future of Lake Erie preservation plans on the U.S. side, and
collaboration between the two governments on the issue, remains in question.
Ontario’s Great Lakes Basin is not only the largest freshwater system on
Earth—holding 20 per cent of the planet’s fresh water—it is also home to
40 per cent of Canada’s economic activity, 95 per cent of Ontario’s
agricultural land, and most Ontarians receive their drinking water from
the lakes.
