We who use Lake Erie waters for drinking, fishing and recreating are asking Ohio EPA to get serious about reducing the sources of harmful algae. Ohio EPA wants to use the same ole same ole practices which have failed to reduce harmful algae.  Enough is enough.

Ohio EPA needs to measure the waters and set goals for what science says will produce results - meaning less green slime in Lake Erie.  Ohio EPA is seeking comments on a Lake Erie Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).  Please join in telling Ohio EPA  that they must use dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) for the 40% reduction targets. Total Phosphorus reductions proposed max out of DRP reductions at only 20%, far short of the 40% DRP reduction needed.  And Ohio EPA needs to assess and reduce land applications of liquid and solid manure (which contains DRP) from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's). Instead Ohio is allowing more and more confined cow, pig and poultry operations in the watershed increasing manure runoff to Lake Erie.

Failure to use DRP and reduce CAFO manure runoff will result in more and more harmful algae that create toxins in Lake Erie's waters. This is unacceptable.  Numbers matter.  Sign this petition and speak out.  Comments are due March 8th close of business and we will submit signatures we have then, but will also continue to send petitions each week until June 30th when Ohio EPA makes its final TMDL decision. Numbers matter - please help get more signatures to  get Ohio EPA and USEPA to use DRP for goal setting and to achieve the CAFO manure runoff reductions needed.  Please help our Great Lake Erie.

Also Note:  Lake Erie's users support USEPA overseeing  the Lake Erie TMDL to ensure Lake Erie gets the needed DRP and manure source reductions.