In 2010, state politicians decided to designate the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed as “distressed.” The idea was to provide guidelines for farmers to follow when applying manure to their lands. So how’s that working out?
Grand Lake is just as green now as it was 30 years ago. Despite a bunch of state money and considerable effort by local folks, harmful algae have not been wiped out. The warning signs are still up on all of the empty beaches. Yes, there are treatment trains filtering water in some streams, but the battle is far from won.
In announcing the new “impaired” status of Lake Erie’s western basin open water area, Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler said, “We have taken unprecedented steps in recent years to put Lake Erie on a better trajectory – including investing more than $3 billion to improve its water quality. Governor John Kasich takes his responsibility to protect the lake very seriously. While designating the open waters of the western basin as impaired does not provide, as some suggest, a magic bullet to improve the lake, the State remains committed to our obligations under the Clean Water Act and to examine emerging science and practices that we can put in place to help improve it.”
If the Ohio government has spent $3 billion to clean up Lake Erie, what do they have to show for it? All one has to do is take a boat ride on Lake Erie this summer to realize that, yes, it’s “impaired.” In some places you can’t drop a line through the algae blooms.
When ranking water quality, I suppose labels like these are fine … but they’re just labels. Until the governor decides to take on the agricultural community and impose strict laws prohibiting the use of manure in watersheds, pollution will keep on coming.
• The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has two April events for outdoor-minded folks. They are:
»Spring Wildflower Hike at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. Saturday at 4 p.m. Hikers meet at the Bear’s Den, which is near the main parking lot trailhead at 2381 Ohio 343, Yellow Springs. For information, email michelle.comer@dnr.state.oh.us or call (937) 537-6173.
»Canal Cabin Fever Run/Walk at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park – The park has partnered with the Heritage Trails Park District to put on a 5K walk/run located on the towpath beside the canal on April 8. Registration is noon at the Noble Township House, 16585 County Road 66A (Brewer Road), St. Marys. The 5K will be 1-3 p.m. The direction of the 5K depends on the weather. For information, call (419) 394-3611.
• Bark on the beach: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has announced it has designated beaches at some of its state parks for seasonal dog exercise. Now through May 18 (during regular park hours) you can take your dog to the beach to run off leash. On May 19, the beaches will be opened to swimmers with a "no pets" rule. The following southwest Ohio parks are participating: Buck Creek, Caesar Creek, Cowan Lake, East Fork, Grand Lake St. Marys, Hueston Woods, Indian Lake, Kiser Lake, Lake Loramie, Paint Creek, Pike Lake, Rocky Fork and Stonelick.
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