An article by Lauren Arenschield published in The Columbus Dispatch (read full article) reveals the findings of a US EPA report that concludes state and federal governments aren't doing enough to prevent phosphorus and nitrogen from entering waterways and contributing to a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Notable points made in the article include:
- Of the 12 states in the Mississippi-Achafalaya River Basin, only Ohio and Iowa have strategies in place to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen in waterways
- Grand Lake St. Marys is referred to as "a perenniel poster child for toxic algae caused by farm runoff"
- A state task force has recommended cutting phosphorus by 40 percent in the Maumee River to stop toxic algae blooms from forming in Lake Erie
- There is no easy solution to the problem, but increased monitoring systems have been recommended
