With these, in some cases, tragic incidents as background, there is increased focus on public water supply and infrastructure. And because there is a direct correlation between nutrient loading in lakes and algal blooms/cyanobacteria, there is a focus on the impact of nutrients on Lake Erie (and other water bodies).
To say that the problem with nutrient loading that eventually led to the drinking water issues in Toledo is complex is an understatement. Further complicating the issue regarding Lake Erie is that it involves multiple jurisdictions in Canada and the US.
International Agreements to Address Nutrients
For those who have been following the issue of nutrient loading, you are likely aware of two agreements: The International Joint Commission – Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health.
In response to these agreements, the “Canada-Ontario Draft Action Plan” was released in February, 2017. This nearly-60-page draft action plan provides some background on the issues of nutrients… in particular, phosphorus in Lake Erie.
The Draft Plan “…sets out a variety of proposed federal and provincial actions to be coordinated and implemented across jurisdictions and sectors.” However, the action plans are not included in this draft.
Understanding Phosphorus Is Complicated
Understanding potential impacts to Lake Erie is not a new environmental issue. In the 1980s, Sr. Dragun Scientist, Jeffrey Bolin, was assessing impacts to Lake Erie (Photo Credit: Dragun Corporation).
Some of the complicating factors that will have to be considered before an action plan can be developed include:
- Understanding the “forms” of phosphorus (dissolved and particulate)
- Sources of phosphorus (human sewage, animal manure, chemical fertilizers, etc.)
- The impact of soil erosion and the transport of phosphorus
- Invasive species that tend to clean the water and allow for more photosynthesis
- Effect of heavy rain events and changing temperatures on phosphorus and algal growth
Also, historically, one of the areas of focus in Ontario for phosphorus has been the greenhouse businesses. In fact, Ontario’s greenhouse business capacity nearly doubled between 2001 and 2011 (See “Greenhouse Compliance Strategy”).
How these Agreements and Plans will affect the regulated community remains to be seen. But whether you are involved in agriculture, industry, or municipal government, this is an issue that we’ll all have to monitor.
As an aside, the “sister” nutrient issue (not addressed in this draft plan) is nitrates. If you would like to learn more about nitrates, see this webinar that Dr. Michael Sklash did recently.
Finally, in mid-May, the (US) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science will release their first Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Projections for 2017. What these projections may indicate will be watched closely in Canada and the US.
If you need to understand how nutrients from your site may (or may not) be impacting the environment, please call our office to speak with one our scientists. You can either contact me by email (ahahn@dragun.com) or call our office at 519-979-7300.