The first week of March was a busy time in Washington, DC, as Great Lakes advocates from around the region, including the Alliance, gathered for the annual “Great Lakes Days” to lobby Congress for funding and laws to protect and restore the Great Lakes. The event, organized by the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes coalition, brought hundreds of Great Lakes advocates to Washington, DC, to meet with Members of Congress.

The Alliance was tapped to lead the Illinois delegation and brought together allies from several Illinois-based organizations, including Friends of the Chicago River, the Illinois Environmental Council, and Stantec. Our group met with over 10 Illinois congressional offices on March 9 to discuss Great Lakes policy priorities.  Overall, we believe we had a productive and frank dialogue, especially noting the difficulty of achieving some of our funding and legislative priorities this year with a divided Congress.

We couldn’t have timed our advocacy better as the White House released the FY 2024 President’s Budget the same day of our congressional visits.  While we did not see the increases we had hoped for in all of the programs targeting the Great Lakes, the budget does have some good news. We appreciate that the Administration proposed a $1.9 billion (19%) increase for US EPA’s budget, with the majority of these funds targeting programs supporting water infrastructure improvements for rural and underserved communities. In addition, US EPA’s budget includes increases for programs that reduce lead in schools and support actions to address PFAS, including EPA’s first-ever draft rule to regulate PFAS in drinking water.

The budget debate now moves to Congress, and it is going to be contentious as House Republicans are determined to reduce federal spending. Overall, House Republicans have vowed to cut federal non-defense programs back to FY 2022 levels or lower. With the Senate in Democratic hands, it is unclear how top-line spending policy will ultimately be worked out, but we will continue to advocate for programs that protect our water resources.

In addition to the release of the President’s Budget, the House considered and passed a Congressional Review Act resolution to disapprove the Biden Administration’s recently released “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) Clean Water Act rule that sets forth protections for the nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. We supported the development of the “Waters of the United States” rule and opposed the congressional resolution to disapprove the rule as the rule provides important Clean Water Act protections to the region’s water resources. The Senate is anticipated to take up the resolution soon, although the final vote is unclear, and the Biden Administration is expected to veto the resolution if it passes. 

With all of these events occurring during Great Lakes Days, it gave us a great opportunity to talk about our federal priorities to our congressional representatives and to build a foundation upon which to continue the dialogue as we move forward in the legislative process.  We will keep you informed of how developments in Washington, DC, this year and appreciate your support for programs that protect and restore the Great Lakes.

The post DC Update: Great Lakes Advocates Head to Washington, President’s Budget Released appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

As the Alliance’s Agricultural & Restoration Policy Director, Tom leads work in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio to achieve the Alliance’s agriculture and water goals and implements regional restoration initiatives. In addition, he serves as a convener, organizer, and relationship builder at all levels of government and stakeholders, emphasizing state-level agriculture water policy.

Resources:

Bold Action Needed to Meaningfully Reduce Algal Blooms in Western Lake Erie

The post The Cost to Meet Water Quality Goals in the Western Basin of Lake Erie Season 2, Episode 26 appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

In 2015, the Governors of Ohio and Michigan and the Premier of Ontario committed to reducing phosphorus inputs to Lake Erie by 40% by 2025. Interim targets set for 2020 were not met. Data consistently shows that it is unlikely the 2025 goal will be met.

On February 14, 2023, the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Ohio Environmental Council released a new study – The Cost to Meet Water Quality Goals in the Western Basin of Lake Erie .

Project partners examined the additional agricultural conservation practices needed and associated costs for Michigan and Ohio to implement them in the Western Basin of Lake Erie to meet water quality goals.

The study found:

• Current investments in Ohio and Michigan aimed at reducing phosphorous runoff from agricultural lands are woefully inadequate.

• If funding and conservation practice adoption continue as they currently are, the study found that there is no pathway for Michigan and Ohio to meet the 40% nonpoint source phosphorus reduction goal.

• Meeting the 40% phosphorus reduction goal is possible. But it will require significant, sustained additional funding, by several orders of magnitude annually, along with major increases in conservation practice adoption, also by orders of magnitude annually, and in some cases shifting the types of conservation practices.

Bold action is needed to meaningfully reduce western Lake Erie’s harmful algal bloom problem that threatens our drinking water, recreation, and regional economy.

If Ohio, Michigan, and the federal government are truly committed to protecting the health of our communities and the lake, elected leaders and agency officials must recognize the scale of the problem and what it will take to solve it.

The study highlights shortcomings in current practices and funding and provides insights into what is needed in Michigan and Ohio to reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake Erie by 40%.

Major shifts needed in the types of conservation practices utilized

Annual, in-field conservation practices are not sufficient to meet water quality objectives – even when implemented on 100% of agricultural acres in the western Lake Erie basin. The study suggests that annual in-field practices, such as cover crops, no-till, and crop rotation, cannot be scaled sufficiently to meet the water quality goals of the western basin.

Changes are needed in the types of conservation practices funded as part of this effort. State and federal agencies must invest sustainably in edge-of-field structural practices like constructed wetlands and two-stage ditches to meet water quality goals in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. These practices deliver more consistent phosphorus reductions year-over-year and are not easily abandoned like annual in-field practices.

The study finds that Michigan and Ohio will need to increase the number of acres using annual in-field and edge-of-field structural conservation practices to meet water quality goals. In-field practices like cover crops and crop rotation will need to be increased by up to 8 times. Edge-of-field structural practices, such as wetlands and two-stage ditches, will need to be increased by up to as much as 25 times current levels.

Significant, sustained new investments needed

The study found that state and federal agencies currently are underinvesting by several orders of magnitude. Michigan will need to increase funding by $40-65 million over current spending, a more than six-fold annual increase from current levels. Ohio will need to roughly double current annual funding levels by $170-250 million over current spending.

Funding should be prioritized for practices that make quantifiable, meaningful reductions in phosphorus flowing off agricultural lands. For instance, the H2Ohio program, initiated by Governor DeWine in 2019, has significantly invested in solutions to phosphorus nutrient pollution. H2Ohio dollars have funded wetland construction and incentivized in-field practices. But to truly implement these practices at the scale needed to make meaningful phosphorus reductions, programs like H2Ohio will need to be funded at much higher levels and, over the long term, beyond the biennial budget cycle.

Elected leaders and agency officials must acknowledge the scale of the problem, appropriate adequate funding, and develop strong plans for meeting nonpoint source phosphorus reductions.

For more information, download the full report and fact sheet.

The study, led by Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Ohio Environmental Council, with technical support from LimnoTech and Delta Institute, used readily available, peer-reviewed information, data, and literature to create modeling scenarios.

The project team designed a process to estimate needed agricultural conservation practices in the western basin of Lake Erie and the associated costs for both Michigan and Ohio to implement these needed practices.

The post Bold Action Needed to Meaningfully Reduce Algal Blooms in Western Lake Erie appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Crystal M.C. Davis leads the Alliance’s policy and advocacy efforts related to Lake Erie and manages the organization’s Ohio office. She has played an integral role in the Alliance’s emerging work around drinking water and developing a people-centered model for protecting the Great Lakes.

As the Alliance’s Agricultural & Restoration Policy Director, Tom leads work in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio to achieve the Alliance’s agriculture and water goals and implements regional restoration initiatives. In addition, he serves as a convener, organizer, and relationship builder at all levels of government and stakeholders, emphasizing state-level agriculture water policy.

Resources
New Study: Downstream Water Users Bear Financial Burden of Upstream Pollution – Alliance for the Great Lake

Five Years Later: Lessons From the Toledo Water Crisis – Alliance for the Great Lakes

Tom Zimnicki, Agricultural Pollution in the Great Lakes – Alliance for the Great Lakes

Alliance Statement on the 2022 Western Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast – Alliance for the Great Lakes

The post Crystal M.C. Davis and Tom Zimnicki – Harmful Algal Blooms and Downstream Costs appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“Each summer, western Lake Erie is plagued by harmful algal blooms fueled by nutrient pollution flowing off upstream agricultural lands. While this year’s bloom is forecasted to be relatively mild compared to past years, even a smaller bloom can turn toxic and threaten drinking water safety. The cost burden of these blooms on ratepayers is real. According to new research from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a family of five in Toledo is paying roughly an additional $100/year in their water bill because of this pollution. The Alliance remains committed to addressing water pollution in western Lake Erie and working with Ohio lawmakers to solve this problem. Downstream ratepayers should not have to shoulder the financial burden or health impacts of this pollution problem.”

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Alliance Statement on the 2022 Western Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Ohioans across the state are struggling to afford their water and sewer bills. A first-of-its-kind case study finds that water bills are pushed even higher for communities that pull their drinking water from Lake Erie due to harmful algal blooms caused by upstream agricultural pollution. And the costs are not insignificant. An analysis by the Alliance for the Great Lakes found that a family of five in Toledo is paying roughly an additional $100/year in their water bill because of this pollution problem. The case study illuminates the fact that downstream water users are paying a real cost for managing a pollution problem they did not create, compounding water affordability issues faced by many Ohioans.

Harmful Algal Blooms Threaten Drinking Water

Each summer, western Lake Erie experiences massive algal blooms which can produce harmful toxins that threaten drinking water supplies. These blooms are fueled by excess nutrients flowing off upstream agricultural lands into the lake.

The harmful algal blooms (HABs) in western Lake Erie can produce harmful cyanotoxins, a common one being microcystin. These toxins are a serious threat to human and animal health. Microcystin is a potent liver toxin and a possible human carcinogen. Cyanotoxins can also kill livestock and pets that drink affected waters.

Almost eight years ago, toxins from an algal bloom got into the drinking water systems of Toledo, Ohio. On August 2nd, 2014, more than half a million Toledo-area residents were ordered not to drink or even touch their water. The order lasted for nearly three days. A few weeks later, residents of Pelee Island, Ontario faced a similar crisis lasting nearly two weeks.

Pollution Burden Shouldered by Downstream Water Users

To ensure drinking water safety, drinking water facilities that draw water from Lake Erie have put into place additional monitoring and treatment, which can cost millions of dollars. This is a very real financial burden for drinking water facilities, which gets passed on to ratepayers.

These additional costs – which are critical to ensure safe drinking water – add up. The Alliance’s analysis found the additional annual average per-capita cost for HAB-related monitoring and treatment for Ohio residents who get their drinking water from Lake Erie is $10.48. For Toledo-area residents, the additional cost jumps to $18.76 per year, which translates to almost $100 extra per year on a water bill for a family of five. The case study is based on data from a 2020 survey administered by the Ohio Department of Drinking and Groundwater.

Downstream ratepayers, many of whom are already struggling to pay their water bills, should not have to shoulder the financial burden of addressing this pollution problem. And the longer this pollution problem continues, the costs will only increase as the water quality in western Lake Erie continues to degrade.

Improved Data, Transparency, and Accountability Needed

The case study identified three lessons learned from the analysis. They are:

• Downstream Water Users Bear the Burden of Upstream Polluters: Downstream ratepayers are paying a real cost for managing a pollution problem they did not create. And, it is exacerbating existing water affordability issues. Ohio needs a statewide conversation about who is responsible for this financial burden. The state of Ohio must give downstream stakeholders a meaningful seat at the table in policy discussions on stopping agricultural runoff pollution.

• Ongoing Data Needed: The Ohio Department of Drinking and Groundwater should repeat this survey every three years. However public water facilities should collect cost information related to HABs on an annual basis. The data in this report is from 2020, which was a relatively small algal bloom year in western Lake Erie. Many costs incurred by water treatment facilities are variable depending on the bloom size and toxicity. Repeating the study will provide more accurate information to ratepayers, elected officials, and government agencies managing this pollution problem.

• Transparent & Accessible Data Needed: The information in this case study was received only after learning Ohio Environmental Protection Agency conducted the cost survey and the Alliance for the Great Lakes requested the results from the agency through a public records request. It is unacceptable that this is not easy to find and understand public information. Ratepayers should be able to easily access this information and have a right to know the impact upstream pollution has on their water bills.

Download and read the full case study: Western Lake Erie Basin Drinking Water Systems: Harmful Algal Bloom Cost of Intervention.

The post New Study: Downstream Water Users Bear Financial Burden of Upstream Pollution appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Toledo, OH (July 9, 2020) – This morning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its partners released the 2020 Seasonal Forecast of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) for Lake Erie. NOAA predicted a bloom severity of 4.5 and could possibly range between 4 and 5.5. In 2015, the Governors of Ohio and Michigan, along with the Premier of Ontario, set a public goal of reducing nutrient pollution by 40% by 2025, with 2020 as a halfway interim goal of 20%. Today’s results show very plainly that little progress is being made, and we are very far off from achieving this goal. 

In response to today’s report, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Freshwater Future, the Michigan Environmental Council, and the Ohio Environmental Council are calling on the Governors and the Premier to improve domestic action plans to provide a blueprint that the public can use to hold decision-makers accountable, not just a long list of best management practices. 

“Regardless of whether the severity is measured as a 6 or 7.5, when the algal blooms in western Lake Erie can be seen from space, it doesn’t take an expert to understand that this is becoming a crisis,” said Crystal M.C. Davis, Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “Efforts are not only falling short, we also don’t have a clear accounting of how or where we are in reaching the 20% reduction goal, or how we will get to the 40% reduction goal. Lists of best management practices are nice but leaders need to provide an accounting of progress and a plan of action so the public knows where things stand and how their money is being spent. The future of Lake Erie and our communities relies on it.”

Among the waterways in the Great Lakes region, western Lake Erie in particular has been plagued by an increase of HABs over the past decade. The toxins created by HABs pose serious health risks to humans and animals, the environment, and Lake Erie’s more than $15 billion economy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. Scientists believe that reducing the amount of runoff pollution will significantly reduce Lake Erie algal blooms and improve the lake’s health. Unfortunately, very few rules are currently in place to limit agricultural nutrient runoff, which remains the major contributor of HABs in Lake Erie.

HABs also threaten approximately 12 million people’s drinking water each year while also driving up water rates. This is of particular concern as the COVID-19 crisis deepens, and access to clean, safe, affordable water for drinking and hand-washing is more critical than ever. To make matters worse, the cost burden of HABs is often disproportionately placed on the rural and urban communities that sit at the bottom of these rivers and streams, and some have even experienced water shutoffs.

“Rural and urban communities’ drinking water rates are rising as a result of having to treat for harmful algal blooms,” said Kristy Meyer, Associate Director at Freshwater Future. “Rising water rates are causing people to have to make hard decisions between food on the table and tap water to drink and wash hands, something that is essential for public health. It is time community members impacted have a seat at the table to ensure comprehensive equitable solutions are being crafted as the region works to reduce harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.”

“We understand that achieving the benchmarks is aspirational and difficult, but state leaders have clearly failed to meet the targets they voluntarily outlined years ago. We are especially concerned since the plans and strategies outlined  by state and provincial agencies double down on the same status quo methods that have led us to this point,” said Tom Zimnicki at the Michigan Environmental Council. “Moving forward state and provincial administrations owe it to residents and taxpayers to develop programs with real accountability and metrics to ensure water quality objectives are met. Otherwise, we will be writing this same statement in five years.”

“Harmful algal blooms continue to put Lake Erie and Ohio waterways at risk and threaten the quality and safety of our drinking water. We know that there is not one simple solution to address this critical, complex issue,” said Pete Bucher, Managing Director of Water Policy at the Ohio Environmental Council. “Ohio’s updated Domestic Action Plan and the H2Ohio program are important investments to improve Lake Erie water quality. We are committed to continuing to work with the DeWine administration and stakeholders to ensure these plans are sustainable, include accountability measures and involve diverse public engagement in order to achieve quantifiable water quality improvements.” 

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, (312) 445-9760, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Great Lakes leaders react to NOAA’s 2020 Western Lake Erie Basin Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

In response to Ohio EPA’s announcement, Alliance for the Great Lakes Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement Crystal M.C. Davis release the following statement:

“We applaud today’s announcement by Ohio EPA that it will develop a Clean Water Act TMDL for western Lake Erie. The Alliance for the Great Lakes, along with thousands of concerned Ohioans, have called for the development of a TMDL for the past several years. A TMDL for western Lake Erie will provide the state with another tool to reduce the pollution causing the lake’s harmful algal blooms that threaten human health and the environment.

A TMDL, coupled with a $172 million investment through the new H2Ohio program, is building a strong strategy for preventing harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie. We need every tool available to solve this problem.

Today’s announcement is just the beginning of the process. We will be paying close attention to the details as the TMDL is developed to ensure it is a strong tool for protecting Lake Erie.”

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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, (312) 445-9760, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Ohio Announcement on Development of a Pollution Diet for Western Lake Erie a Step in the Right Direction appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

In reaction to the Governor’s announcement, Alliance for the Great Lakes Policy Director Crystal Davis made the following statement:

“We applaud the Governor’s commitment to finding opportunities to build in accountability to the H2Ohio implementation plan. With this significant investment of taxpayer dollars, we need to be sure the programs lead to measurable clean water outcomes for Ohio’s waterways. We are encouraged by the inclusion of certification of agricultural producers to access the funding, yet ultimately the program is still voluntary. We look forward to working with the administration in future years to develop more stringent requirements for the program.

We also applaud the Governor’s designation of some H2Ohio funds for water infrastructure investment in disadvantaged communities. Ohio communities face significant costs to replace and upgrade aging water and sewer infrastructure while maintaining health and environmental quality. As our recently released report found, water affordability of basic water and sewer services impacts Ohioans across the state in both urban and rural areas. This funding is a step in the right direction to help low-income families afford these basic services.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with Crystal Davis, contact Jennifer Caddick, (312) 445-9760 or jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Alliance for the Great Lakes Statement on Gov. Dewine’s Announcement of the H2Ohio Implementation Plan appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

On August 2nd, 2014, residents of Toledo, Ohio awoke to urgent warnings not to drink or use their tap water. Half a million people were unable to drink their water, cook with it, or brush their teeth. The cause? Toxins from a harmful algal bloom growing in Lake Erie.

Right now, a bloom is forming on the surface of Lake Erie, and the algae continues to come back year after year. We went to Toledo to talk to communities on the front lines about the 2014 crisis and its aftermath.

“It stinks. The best thing I can think to describe it is if you remember Grandma’s basement, that musty smell,” said Dave Spangler, president of the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, describing the blanket of algae that covers western Lake Erie each year. “It gets so thick that it slows the boats.”

Five years ago, toxins from an algal bloom got into the drinking water systems of Toledo, Ohio. On August 2nd, more than half a million Toledo residents were ordered not to drink or even touch their water. The order lasted for nearly three days. A few weeks later, residents of Pelee Island, Ontario faced a similar crisis lasting nearly two weeks.

Every year, agricultural runoff pollution causes massive harmful algal blooms to cover parts of the western Lake Erie basin. This year is no exception.

Right now, a layer of slick green algae is forming on Lake Erie’s surface. Last month, NOAA released its annual algal bloom forecast, predicting another severe bloom this summer.

For many in Toledo, this year’s algal bloom forecast stirred up memories of the 2014 water crisis and fresh anxieties about their water.

No one living in a Great Lakes city should have to anxiously wonder if their tap water is safe to drink. But every summer, that’s the reality for millions of people living along Lake Erie.

Rebuilding Trust at the Tap

“You’re telling people, don’t drink the water. Don’t even touch it,” said John C. Jones, community liaison for ProMedica health system, as he recalled the 2014 water crisis. “Don’t drink is one thing, but being told you can’t touch the water brings a whole other level to this.”

The 2014 water crisis had both personal and professional impacts for Jones. 

The first day, he drove hours to find water. Jones was able to get water for his family and elderly parents. And while he helped with his church’s effort to distribute cases of water to seniors and low-income congregants, communicating to the broader Toledo community proved challenging.

“Some people were like, ‘Nah, it isn’t real. It’s just the city, they don’t know what they’re doing,’” Jones said, explaining the range of perspectives in the community. “To people at the other extreme, it was like, ‘This is life and death right now.’” 

Jones explained the challenge of messaging to the public during the crisis, “So you’re trying to manage the panic, but you’re also trying to make people be non-apathetic.”   

Jones acknowledged the current effort by the community and environmentalists to address the root causes of algal blooms. Yet he emphasized that the work won’t be done until people can trust the water coming out of their taps.

“I don’t think this movement is moving fast as it should to provide assurance clean water will be provided going forward,” Jones said.

Small Businesses Continue to Take a Hit

“The fish will move somewhere else because there’s less oxygen in the water,” said Spangler. Harmful algal blooms aren’t just unsightly, they deplete oxygen in the water, causing dead zones that can’t support life. “And when people see the big blooms, folks decide, ‘I’m going to take my vacation some other place.’”

Spangler emphasized the ongoing impact of algal blooms on small business owners. The fishing and charter boat industry is hit particularly hard every year, along with tourism and recreation. He estimates charter boat business owners lose about 10% of their income due to the algal blooms.  

Spangler has been to the state capitol many times to emphasize the human and economic impacts of this perennial problem. 

“There’s a family over there that cleans fish for a fee,” he said, and pointed to a red truck parked near the entry to his marina. “If fewer people are fishing, and no one is catching fish, they have to find another way to pay their bills and feed their children.”

Bringing the Community Together for Clean Water

Junction Coalition is a Toledo-based community organization focused on economic, social, and environmental justice. On the first day of the 2014 water crisis, Junction staff went door to door, warning people not to drink the water. 

“On the second day of the crisis, they brought in the National Guard to deliver water,” recalled Alexis Smith, restorative justice director at Junction Coalition, as she reflected on the scale of the panic and the price gouging that took place as water became harder and harder to find on store shelves. 

Today, a lot of the young people and families Smith works with remain skeptical about the water, “I know a lot of people who still don’t drink from the tap.”

Since the 2014 water crisis, the group has focused on bringing young people and residents together around clean water and food security.

In the wake of the water crisis, caused by agricultural run-off pollution, Junction Coalition takes extra care to design green spaces. Junction Coalition has started community gardens that give neighbors a greater sense of control over their food and water.

“We’re not waiting for anyone to be our superhero.” said Alicia Smith, director of Junction Coalition. “We’ll be our own heroes.”

Smith walked through Junction Coalition’s garden, which sits adjacent to her property, where young people from the neighborhood help plant and care for vegetables. She pointed out different crops and stressed that not only can neighbors grow and harvest their own food. Ultimately, farming practices use by large-scale agriculture are at the root of the algal bloom problem. The gardens spark conversation among residents about agriculture and clean water, and what a sustainable future might look like. 

Junction Coalition’s work in the Toledo community is invaluable. But, as Alicia Smith noted, it’s going to take concrete action by the state and real accountability to reduce runoff pollution and protect clean water. 

“We are the ‘public’ in ‘public health,’” Smith said, emphasizing that it is the state’s responsibility to protect clean drinking water. “Where’s the guarantee that this won’t happen again?”

The post Five Years Later: Lessons From the Toledo Water Crisis appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.