Chicago, IL (July 11, 2018) – Today Ohio Governor John Kasich signed Executive Order 2018-09K: Taking Steps to Protect Lake Erie. Alliance for the Great Lakes President & CEO Joel Brammeier issued the following statement:
“We applaud Ohio Governor John Kasich’s announcement and signing of Executive Order 2018-09K: Taking Steps to Protect Lake Erie. Today’s executive order is a step in the right direction toward rescuing western Lake Erie from the massive harmful algal blooms that plague the lake each year. These harmful algal blooms undermine Ohio’s economy and threaten the drinking water source for millions of people each summer.
Three years ago, Governor Kasich joined Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to commit to reducing the amount of pollution, specifically phosphorus, flowing into western Lake Erie by 40 percent by 2025. The executive order signed today, combined with Ohio’s recent designation of western Lake Erie as “impaired” under the Clean Water Act, establishes a framework for progress on this pollution reduction goal. We are encouraged by the focus on agricultural lands, the main source of pollution feeding the harmful algal blooms.
We urge Governor Kasich and his administration to keep up the momentum on efforts to clean up western Lake Erie and ensure the steps outlined in this executive order are implemented.”
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Editor’s Note: The Alliance for the Great Lakes is hosting a webinar briefing – Western Lake Erie Harmful Algal Blooms: A policy update & a firsthand view from shoreline communities – tomorrow, July 12, at 2 pm Eastern/1 pm Central. Reporters are invited to join. Pre-registration is required.
Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760