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Legislators fight for Grand Lake |
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Saturday, 06 June 2009 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Staff Writer
A pair of state legislators called for Grand Lake St. Marys area residents to band together in order to come up with a solution to help improve the water quality in the lake.
State Sen. Keith Faber, a Celina native, said the community will have to “come together” in order to develop a plan to solve the algae issues in the lake.
Two weeks ago, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials issued an advisory indicating the presence of elevated levels of a toxin that could cause people to get ill and could kill pets.
“The problems in the lake are multi-faceted and will take a multi-faceted solution,” Faber said. “I think it is incumbent to do regular monitoring.”
Faber called for the elimination of phosphorus-rich fertilizers within the watershed. Studies have indicated the elevated levels of phosphorus in the lake contributes to the algae problem in the water.
“It’s important that farmers use best management practices and important for the state to do its best to dredge the lake,” Faber said. “One problem is that Grand Lake St. Marys is so shallow and we need to do things to avoid wave problems.”
Further degradation of the lake could impact the region’s tourism, Faber said.
Each year tourism associated with the lake contributes an estimated $40 million to the local economy.
“It’s an economic tool, a form of recreation and important for land values and quality of life,” Faber said. “I have a boat I keep on Grand Lake St. Marys and I am concerned about my kids inner-tubing on it.”
Faber also urged state officials to take an active role in improving water quality on the lake.
“If this was Lake Erie, I imagine we’d get more than the posting of signs,” Faber said. “They need to recognize Grand Lake St. Marys is a vital asset. There also will have to be some local input into a solution.”
State Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, criticized the EPA for the timing of the advisory — which was first issued after 5 p.m. May 21.
Adams said if officials knew of the results sooner, advanced notice should have been given because of the holiday weekend.
“I think it did catch a lot of people by surprise,” Adams said. “I believe it could have been handled better. I just don’t understand how you do it the Thursday before the heavily traveled tourist weekend. You think they would have known before.”
Despite the criticism, Adams said cooperation is key if the lake quality is to improve. Adams touted progress at Indian Lake and said it could serve as a model for Grand Lake St. Marys.
“The only thing that can be done is what has been done in the past with all the groups in the watershed — limit the phosphorus seeping into the watershed,” Adams said. “I’ve been to the meetings and you go to those meetings and I know the effort is being made on all sides. I know Indian Lake has had significant progress when they went to no-till but I don’t know if that compares with livestock.”
Adams said cooperation among the lake groups, farmers and residents will be necessary in order to help reduce the algae in the lake.
Adams also said given the testing techniques of the EPA, dismissing the results would accomplish little.
“There are farmers that do a very good job in best practices and some who don’t do quite as good a job,” Adams said. “I grew up on the lake in Celina and have spent a lot of time in the water and I don’t want to see it closed. I also don’t believe the EPA is going to change their testing procedures — they aren’t going to go backward. There are answers and we have to implement them.”
The EPA announced plans for weekly testing of the lake’s water throughout the summer months.
Adams said as summer sets in, he plans to keep an eye on results.
“I’ll be curious to see how the testing goes,” Adams said. “I want to see how the heat and summer season will affect those tests.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 June 2009 )
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