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Video: Lake Erie Waterkeeper discusses algae crisis

Jeff Alexander — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:38:55 +0000

Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Sandy Bihn is on the front line of efforts to solve Lake Erie’s toxic algae crisis. In this video, Bihn discusses what’s causing the algae crisis and what could be done to solve this problem.

This algae crisis is currently affecting only Lake Erie but everyone in the Great Lakes basin should be concerned.

The reason: What happens in Lake Erie rarely stays in Lake Erie. The lake is a bellwether of changes that could affect other areas of the Great Lakes.

Ohio residents fear repeat of Lake Erie algae bloom

Jeff Alexander — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:46:06 +0000

One year after a toxic algae bloom covered 10 percent of Lake Erie, Ohio residents are on edge about what this summer might bring the state’s most popular tourist attraction.

The 2011 algae bloom, which covered 990 square miles of Lake Erie’s surface area, was the largest in the lake’s history. Experts have said the algae bloom was fueled by excessive amounts of phosphorus washing into the lake from farms, urban areas and municipal sewage treatment facilities; stronger storms driven by climate change and invasive mussels also contribute to the problem. (See video of it here)
Elevated concentrations of phosphorus in Lake Erie, coupled with an unusually warm spring, has anglers, tourism officials and scientists fearing this could be another bad year for toxic algae blooms.

This satellite image shows the 2011 toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie. At its peak, the bloom cover 990 square miles of the lake's surface area.

“There’s a lot of phosphorus in the water, a lot more than there should be. It’s not good news,” said Roger Knight, Lake Erie fisheries program manager at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Knight said the algae blooms are hurting walleye and perch populations in the western and central basins of Lake Erie, but there is no evidence toxins in the algae are contaminating fish. Perch and walleye are the backbone of the lake’s multibillion dollar fishery. (Watch a video of Lake Erie angler discussing algae crisis)

“Pea soup” water threatens fishing, tourism, jobs
The unsightly algae blooms, which make the lake look like pea soup and are large enough to be seen from space, scare away anglers and tourists. Lake Erie accounts for $10 billion annually in tourism spending, one-quarter of all tourism spending in Ohio; the lake also supports 114,000 jobs in Ohio and $2.8 billion annually in wages, according to tourism officials.

Toxic algae blooms coated parts of Lake Erie last year with a fluorescent green scum. The algae is unsightly and poses health threats to humans and animals.

“All of those things are at risk if we don’t have a healthy Lake Erie,” said Larry Fletcher, executive director of Lake Erie Shores & Islands West tourism organization. “Our message isn’t beware of the lake: We have this challenge with algae but the fishing is still good.”

Algae blooms stigmatize Lake Erie … again
The algae blooms that began surfacing in the mid 1990s are similar to those plagued the in the 1960s and ’70s, before Congress enacted laws that curbed water pollution.

Excessive amounts of phosphorus causes rampant algae growth, which leads to surface blooms and contributes to biological dead zones beneath the surface. The toxic algae poses health threats to humans and animals who come in contact with it. (Learn more about how foreign mussels and excessive phosphorus are disrupting the Great Lakes)

Sandy Bihn, the Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper, said she fears the latest algae blooms will resurrect the stigma that plagued Lake Erie in the 1960 and ’70s. Back then, some media outlets reported — incorrectly — that Lake Erie was dead. Comedian Johnny Carson said the lake was “the place fish go to die.”

Lake Erie recovered in the 1980s and supported one of the world’s best walleye fisheries. The lake still supports more fish than the other four Great Lakes combined.

“Lake Erie wasn’t dead in the 1960s and it’s not dying now,” Bihn said. “The lake is sick and we need to heal it.”

We’re all part of the problem
Solving Lake Erie’s algae crisis will require changes by farmers and urban residents who use phosphorus to fertilize crops and feed lawns and golf courses. Bihn said Detroit’s massive wastewater treatment facility also must clean up its act.

Detroit discharges tens of billions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage each year into the Detroit River, which is the major source of water in Lake Erie. Detroit in recent years has also dumped sewage sludge into the Detroit and Rouge rivers, Bihn said. (Learn how curbing sewer overflows in the Great Lakes could create jobs)

Detroit’s sewage treatment facility has been in violation of the federal Clean Water Act for most of the past three decades, according to government data.

“Detroit officials say they can’t afford to fix their sewage treatment equipment, but we can’t afford to have their sewage in our lake,” Bihn said.

Task Force Letters Target GLRI Money

Jordan Lubetkin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:24:20 +0000

The US Senators on the Great Lakes Task Force need colleagues to sign onto a series of letters supporting $475 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by Thursday afternoon (that is tomorrow!).

Multiple letters requesting funds for specific programs are being sent to each committee with jurisdiction over the GLRI or involved federal agencies. For example, the minority and majority chairs of the Commerce, Science, Justice and Related Agencies will get a letter from the Task Force asking for full funding of a NOAH program that is part of the GLRI. If each committee provides funding at FY2010 levels then we can raise the appropriation to $475 million. It is a good strategy but we need all the Great Lakes US Senators to sign onto these letters to show our regional unity on this issue.

The letters will be delivered to the Agriculture, Environment and Public Works, Interior, Commerce, Science, Justice and Related Agencies, and State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs committees. So far, Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and George Voinovich (R-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) are the only signatures. We need you to contact your Great Lakes Senator and ask that s/he sign on by tomorrow by calling Joy Mulinex in Levin’s office.

By consistently funding the GLRI at the original rate of $475 million we can keep up with the threats facing the lakes, make up for years of inadequate investment, fulfill the President’s promise to deliver $5 billion over five years and ensure the GLRI’s long-term success.

EPA Seeks Public Input on Health of Waters

Jordan Lubetkin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:14:14 +0000

The US Environmental Protection Agency has set up a web forum for two-weeks where the public can weigh in on how to better manage our most significant water pollution problems. The online feedback will inform the discussion at the EPA’s April conference: Coming Together for Clean Water.

“This online discussion is for anyone who wants to share their best solutions for restoring healthy waters and creating sustainable communities across the country,” states Peter Silva, assistant administrator in the Office of Water.

They are looking for input from professionals, advocates and anyone in the public interested in clean water issues.

To join the discussion: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

If you have trouble with the link then copy and past this URL into your browser:

http://service.govdelivery.com/service/edition.html?code=USAEPA_26&format=Web&email_type=bulletin

Great Lakes Task Force Letter Needs More Signatures

Jordan Lubetkin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:34:02 +0000

The Great Lakes Task Force is asking all Great Lakes lawmakers to sign onto a letter that advocates for full funding of important restoration programs by this Thursday. The letter will be delivered to the Ranking and Minority chairs on the Interior Appropriations Committee.

The Task Force is asking the Committee to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million for FY 2011. The President’s budget lowered the request to $300 million at a time when we need added investment to reach to goals for GLRI outlined by the Administration and when many GLRI dollars are being siphoned off to fight the Asian carp. We would prefer that money to battle these invasive species come from the agencies’ regular budgets. As the President has said the GLRI is meant to supplement, not supplant agency budgets.

Next, the letter urges lawmakers to provide $16 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes program. This act pays for projects that restore the fish and wildlife resources in the Basin based on the Great Lakes Fishery Restoration Study. The entire region benefits from these projects.

We need $2 million for the US Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition. And the letter puts in a request for $15 million for the US Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center. The Science Center monitors fish populations and provides critical information to Great Lakes managers. They use research vessels on each lake – they are the only federal facility that does this – giving us significant information for determining fish harvests. The problem is that the Science Center’s budget is severely underfunded. They need a real investment now so that the fish surveys will be conducted and fishing quotas established.

So far,Reps. John Dingell, Mark Kirk, Louise Slaughter and Vern Ehlers have signed the letter. Please encourage your lawmaker to sign onto this important bipartisan letter by contacting Joy Mulinex at 224-1211.

The EPA is Coming to a Town Near You

Jordan Lubetkin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:57:15 +0000

Next week, the EPA will kick-off a series of public comment sessions in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to examine the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The hearing schedule is:

July 21, Milwaukee, Wis.
July 22, Chicago, Ill.
July 23, Merrilville, Ind.
July 27, Cleveland, Ohio
July 28, Erie, Pa.
July 29, Rochester, N.Y.
August 3, Lansing, Mich.
August 4, Duluth, Minn.

More information at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/index.html

Make a Call for the Great Lakes Today!

Jordan Lubetkin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:35:01 +0000

Your US House Member and US Senator need to hear from you today. We need you to contact them and tell them how important President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is for the entire region’s economy and ecology. Tell your Congressperson that you expect to see his/her name on the House or Senate letter showing support for this budget initiative. We need to let our delegation know that we are watching and expecting action! After you call or email – if you have time – please comment on this thread and let us know what you heard from your Congress person’s office. Thanks!

Action Alert: Tell your Members of Congress to Match President Obama's Great Lakes Restoration Funding

Jordan Lubetkin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:34:10 +0000

President Obama included a $475 million Great Lakes Restoration initiative in his proposed FY2010 Budget – the largest Great Lakes funding commitment ever made by a President. While this is a great testament to our new Great Lakes President, Congress ultimately dictates federal funding levels. The first step in that process is the Congressional Budget Resolution, which is currently being debated in Congress. The House and Senate plan to pass their budget resolutions by the first week of April.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION: Please take ten minutes today to call Congress today to urge your Representative and Senators to make sure Congress matches the President’s Great Lakes funding commitment in their own budget. Here are the three easy steps:

1) Call the offices of your Representative and two U.S. Senators. You can reach them through their direct line or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected.

2) Make sure the staff person you speak with knows you are a constituent and tell them: “President Obama has included a $475 million Great Lakes Restoration initiative in his fiscal year 2010 budget to restore the Great Lakes and revive our economy. I urge [Representative / Senator _________] to reach out to Members of Congress on the Budget Committee in support of including the President’s Great Lakes restoration initiative in the Congressional Budget Resolution.”

3) Let the campaign know what kind of response you get by commenting on this post or sending an email to grubbc@nwf.org.

FYI: The following Great Lakes members of Congress are on the Budget Committee: Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Steve Austria (R-OH), Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). If you are calling these offices, just tell them directly that you urge them to include the funding in the Budget Resolution and urge them to work with their colleagues to build support.

Thank you for taking action to restore the Great Lakes!

Action Alert: Tell your Members of Congress to Match President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Funding

Jordan Lubetkin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:34:10 +0000

1) Call the offices of your Representative and two U.S. Senators. You can reach them through their direct line or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected.

3) Let the campaign know what kind of response you get by commenting on this post or sending an email to grubbc@nwf.org.

Thank you for taking action to restore the Great Lakes!

Tell Congress to Enact President Obama’s Historic Great Lakes Commitment

Jordan Lubetkin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:46:01 +0000

President Obama recently announced $475 million in his budget for Great Lakes Restoration – an effort that is critical to creating jobs and reviving our economy. The catch is that Congress holds the purse strings through their budget resolution and the annual appropriations process.

That’s where you come in.