EPA seeks public input on phosphorus-reduction plan for Lake Erie

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Tuesday that it is seeking public comments on  proposed phosphorus-reduction targets for Lake Erie, in line with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada, which aims to reduce algal blooms.

The agreement is designed to lessen phosphorus levels in the lake by early 2016 and was developed in 2013 by a bi-national work group composed of federal, state and provincial government leaders, as well as nongovernmental experts. The work group’s recommendations were presented at the semiannual Great Lakes Executive Committee meeting at the end of June.

“The United States and Canada are committed to cutting phosphorus levels to protect Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms,” Susan Hedman, EPA Region 5 administrator and Great Lakes National Program manager, said. “Public input is an important part of the process, as both countries work to meet the 2016 deadline to adopt final phosphorus-reduction targets.”

The proposed reductions include the total phosphorus entering the lake’s Western and Central Basin and the spring total and soluble reactive phosphorus loads from the Maumee River and other watersheds suffering from algal blooms.