Snyder plan to fight Great Lakes algae draws criticism

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan for helping reduce the spread of algal blooms in the Great Lakes fails to go far enough, according to several conservation groups.

In November, state officials rolled out their plan for reducing the amount of phosphorus that reaches the lakes and helps generate the green blooms that foul beaches and interfere with boating. Algae has become particularly problematic in Lake Erie, where it contaminated Toledo’s water supply in 2014.

To combat the problem, Ohio and Ontario officials entered into an agreement in June to enact measures to halt phosphorus from reaching the lakes. The measures offered by Michigan are lacking, according to critics and require “more aggressive action” to deal with what has become an increasing problem during the warmer months.

“While we appreciate the state of Michigan putting forward some ideas for protecting Lake Erie, this plan fails to deliver for the people of Michigan, Lake Erie, and our economy,” said Mike Shriberg, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office, in a press release. “Gov. Snyder needs to protect our drinking water and implement an action plan that cuts nutrient runoff and significantly reduces harmful algal blooms. The current plan is mostly a recognition of past efforts without any significant new proposals. The limited nature of this plan pales in comparison to the threat harmful algal blooms pose to our drinking water, recreation and way of life in the Great Lakes.”

Michigan’s plan essentially relied on steps that had already been taken. It included:

■Keeping discharge reductions enacted in recent years at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

■Reducing discharge limits at the Wayne County Downriver Wastewater Treatment Plant, bringing them more in line with the limits placed on DWSD.

■Working with Indiana and Ohio to cut phosphorus in the Maumee River basin.

■Studying the cause of algal blooms as well as the role played by invasive mussels in amplifying their impact.

“We’ve made a tremendous reduction in phosphorus with DWSD,” said Bill Creal, chief of the water resources division at Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality, in November. “That is the biggest point source of phosphorus contamination for Lake Erie.”

But Molly Flanagan, vice president for policy at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, said those steps don’t go far enough.

“...The plan released by Michigan doesn’t include enough detail to ensure that phosphorus pollution is reduced to target levels,” she said in a statement. “The state should go back to the drawing board and deliver a serious plan to the citizens of the region.”

A spokesperson for DEQ could not immediately be reached for comment.

JLynch@detroitnews.com

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