Reducing polluted runoff in the Great Lakes

Federal Investments are Reducing Polluted Runoff

Federal investments have encouraged farmers to install grass buffer strips, plant cover crops, and use the proper amounts of fertilizer to nourish crops, while also funding the installation of rain gardens in urban areas. Taken together, these projects help contain pollutants and prevent them from reaching the Great Lakes. Since 2009, farm conservation has doubled in key areas like the western basin of Lake Erie; Saginaw Bay, Mich.; and Green Bay, Wis.

But Serious Threats Remain

Toxic algae outbreaks plague the western basin of Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron, and Green Bay in Lake Michigan—as well as many inland lakes and waters. These blooms are fueled by polluted runoff from farm fields. The federal government should continue to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the conservation measures of the Farm Bill, both of which pay farmers to take specific actions to keep their soil healthy and keep polluted runoff out of our waterways.

Featured Success Story

Project Helps Reduce Runoff on a Dairy Farm

Runoff from dairy farms with high nutrient levels can cause algal blooms, but the Brickstead Dairy is working to reduce the amount of nutrients that enter surface water to protect water quality.