ARTICLE
14 March 2018

A Multi-Jurisdictional Action Plan To Reduce Algal Blooms In Lake Erie

SL
Siskinds LLP

Contributor

Since 1937, Siskinds has been that firm of specialists serving individuals, families and businesses in southwestern Ontario and Canada from our offices in London, Sarnia and Quebec City. We’ve grown as the world around us has evolved. Today, we are a team of over 230 lawyers and support staff covering personal, business, personal injury and class action law and over 25 specialized practice areas.
The Ontario and federal governments have recently announced the enactment of a joint action plan for reducing algal blooms in Lake Erie.
Canada Environment

The Ontario and federal governments have recently announced the enactment of a joint action plan for reducing algal blooms in Lake Erie. The Lake Erie Action Plan identifies numerous actions aimed at reducing the amount of phosphorus entering into Lake Erie by 40 per cent below 2008 levels.

The Action Plan operationalizes commitments that Canada and Ontario have made under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, 2012 and the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2014 to reduce phosphorus entering Lake Erie. Canada and the United States have also adopted binational phosphorus reduction targets. Ontario's Great Lakes Protection Act requires the province to establish at least one target aimed at reducing algal blooms.

The announced Action Plan also comes on the heels of an International Joint Commission Progress Report that highlighted the persistent water quality issues plaguing western and central Lake Erie and that made a number of recommendations for reducing algal blooms.

Phosphorous has long been a problem in Lake Erie. Phosphorous enters the lake in a number of ways including especially via run-off from agricultural operations and sewage treatment plants. Excessive phosphorous loads can lead to harmful algal blooms, which can lead to a number of deleterious environmental and human health impacts. Algal blooms have been a particularly pernicious and long-standing problem in Lake Erie, whose biological productivity and proximity to agricultural operations and population centres in both Canada and the United States makes it particularly vulnerable.

Although decades of multi-jurisdictional efforts helped reduce the amount of run-off entering Lake Erie in the 1970s and 1980s, climate change, along with changes to the local ecosystem and land use, have created a recent resurgence in algal blooms.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

See More Popular Content From

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More