Last
month, Quebec City hosted a conference of the 8 Governors from the Great Lakes
US States and 2 from Canadian Provinces to discuss issues facing the Great
Lakes. One of the top issues discussed
was the algae blooms on Lake Erie; to which Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario pledged
to a reduction of 40% by 2025.
While
the pledge is a step in the right direction, environmental groups have tried to
call attention to this issue for years but have been largely ignored by
government officials in the region. In
2011, a sixth of Lake Erie was covered with toxic algae blooms. It reduced fish
populations, fouled beaches, and most importantly it contaminated the drinking
water. The bloom produced a concentration of a liver toxin that was 1,200 times
the limit set by the World Health Organization.
The
drinking water contamination continues to be one of the largest issues
associated with the algae blooms. Just last August, Toledo was without drinkable
water for 3 days because of dangerous toxin levels.
Some
environmental groups are not only angry with the delayed action, but with the
announcement itself. The conference provided no details on how the reduction
will be carried out nor any mechanism to ensure compliance. The governors only
said that “adaptive measures” will be taken by State environmental agencies.
The
Sierra Club and the Food and Water Watch believe the announcement just shows
how the agricultural industry continues to remain untouchable. Since the algae
blooms are largely created by agricultural runoff containing phosphorus,
measures would be taken to regulate agricultural pollution. Unfortunately, no
such measure was expressed in the announcement.
A
spokeswoman for the Food and Water Watch issued a statement “Relying on
voluntary action is irresponsible and leaves a major source of drinking water
for the region at the mercy of an industry looking to profit above all else”.
Another
big issue raised was whether or not Great Lakes water should be diverted to
Waukesha, Wisconsin. This community has had a polluted well for years, and now
the Wisconsin DNR requests access to the safe water in the Great Lakes. In
order to have access, the request needs approval from all 8 Great Lakes States.
Just one vote against it can deny the whole proposal.
State
leaders are expected to proceed with caution in forming their response because
they believe the decision will become precedent for all future water diversion
requests, which will be highly significant in the near future as water becomes scarcer
around the country.
Michigan
will arguably be the most important voice in the matter as it is the only state
completely in the Great Lakes Basin. While it is important to provide those in
need with available water sources, Michigan has the most to lose if diversion requests
start to flood in.
