With Lake Erie to the no
rth, the Ohio River to the south, and numerous other rivers, creeks and streams, Ohio has acquired the reputation of being the Saudi Arabia of water. The sad truth is that while the west is prone to droughts and water shortages, the water in the east is frequently polluted. While various sources of industrial point sources of pollution have largely been halted since that infamous day the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire, water pollution from what is known as non-point sources has grown. More specifically, nutrients from a variety of sources are finding their way into multiple creeks and streams with the end resulting into massive algae blooms in various bodies of water including but not limited to Wingfoot Lake, Chippewa Lake, Lake St. Mary’s and most notably Lake Erie. The problem is especially acute due to toxins produced from a species of algae know as cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae). Algae blooms are more pronounced in the western basin of Lake Erie due to its shallow depth and nutrient load from the Maumee River that spills into the lake at Toledo, Ohio.
Commodity crops such as corn and soybeans are grown on thousands of acres of prime farm land in the Maumee River watershed. Through erosion, leachates of fertilizer to drain tiles and various aquifers, excess nutrients from fertilizers and manure eventually reach Lake Erie, and hence begin the algae blooms. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Annex 4 has established a total phosphorus load for the Maumee River at Waterville, Ohio to be 860 metric tons. In 2017 monitoring recorded a load of a whopping 1800 metric tons which is above the Annex 4 target and exceeding the standard three of the last four years. Farms are not the only source of excess nutrients to the lake’s western basin but also include overflows from the Detroit sewer plant, failing septic systems, and the prolific use of chemical fertilizers on lawns.
On July 31, 2014, Toledo’s water supply was shut off due to the problem of toxins from algae in the lake. With such toxins present, the water may not be used for drinking, cooking or even bathing as it can cause sickness or even death. At the much smaller Chippewa Lake, swimming bans were posted early this summer as the algae toxins create unsafe conditions for humans and pets Even Ohio’s billion dollar plus fishing industry has been affected as boats must navigate through “pea green” water and algae blooms in Lake Erie’s Western Basin. The shutdown of Toledo’s water system caught the attention of Governor John Kasich who issued an executive order to deal with the pollution on July 11th of 2018. In summary, the order states that the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture shall determine if a particular water shed 
of the Lake Erie basin should be designated as distressed with such a designation being approved by the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Should the Commission agree to the distressed designation, then the Director of ODA can set requirements for “the storage, handling and land applications of manure and for the control of the erosion of sediment and substances allotted thereto and associated nutrient management plans for farm operations within the designated water shed boundaries.” In addition to the above action, eight other watersheds in the Maumee River Basin if declared as watersheds in distress due to increased nutrient levels, the ODA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio EPA would recommend a rule package to mitigate watershed problems having to do with excess nutrients.
The Governor’s actions are not supported by some in the State legislature as the “heavy-hand” of government could force farmers into somewhat costly compliance actions. Senate Bill 299 with amendments addressing problems of Lake Erie’s Western Basin was passed by the 132 General Assembly and signed by the Governor. In short, the bill appropriates 36 million dollars for the improvement in Lake Erie Water quality without the “rule-making” by various state agencies. The funds would be used for the expansion of the Stone Laboratory at Put-In-Bay, increased staffing for farmer assistance, soil testing and nutrient monitoring, and the purchase of various kinds of equipment for monitoring nutrient loads in the lake and its watersheds. For sure, the Governor’s intent is that another shut down of a municipal water system such as Toledo’s is unacceptable and that corrective measures to prevent algae blooms may be proceeding too slowly.
According to Senator Frank LaRose, the Governor’s executive order may not take effect with the Senate Bill 299 signed by the Governor in place. Farmers in northwest Ohio are in the proverbial “Catch 22″ phase as they for sure will resist strict and most likely costly regulations to mitigate nutrient loads to the lake, while another major shut down of a municipal water system again such as Toledo’s could enrage the general public in which farmers will receive the brunt of the ire as to the problems plaguing the western basin of the lake. The question remains if more appropriations from the legislature for staffing, soil testing, farmer assistance and water nutrient monitoring will be enough to at least mitigate these great algae blooms or will a compulsory plan be put in place similar to the Governor’s executive order if significant progress is not made soon.
The next few years will tell the tale.