Label
Council Members Adams and Komives
Title
Resolution requesting President Biden to sign an Executive Order for Federal Management that will reduce toxic harmful algae blooms that are costly for municipal water treatment plants and result in economic harm to fishing, boating and recreation, tourist related businesses; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, Lake Erie is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, and Lake Erie walleye fishery is widely considered the best in the world 12th largest freshwater lake in the world; and
WHEREAS, Lake Erie provides the source of drinking water to 11 million people; and
WHEREAS, Lake Erie is important to the economy with an estimated loss of $123 million from water quality issues including fewer anglers, beach advisories, water quality advisories and increased water plant operating costs; and
WHEREAS, Lake Erie water quality improved and was the great success story after the Clean Water Act was passed with the return of walleye and yellow perch; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1990's, however, the "green slime" began to reappear in Lake Erie with substantial blooms from 2000-2005 which continued to increase. As a result, the Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorus Task Force One was created by Ohio Democratic Governor Ted Strickland in 2007 which issued a report in 2010, and the Ohio Phosphorus Task Force Two was created by Republican Governor John Kasich in 2011 which issued a report in 2013. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Annex Four - Nutrients was executed in 2012 creating a 40% reduction in phosphorus by 2025, the Lake Erie Collaborative Agreement was signed by Ohio, Michigan and Ontario for half the needed 40% reduction in phosphorus by 2020, and the Ohio Nutrient Mass Balance Reports were presented in 2016 and 2020; and
WHEREAS, over 2 billion dollars have been spent for programs, primarily for agriculture to do Best Management Practices to reduce ...
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