Tag Archives: algae

An improved system to cleanup Wisconsin’s lakes

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This summer we saw some unusually unpleasant lake conditions; clumps of algae, bad smells, poor swimming conditions and dead fish to name a few. There are several culprits to blame, but one of them, phosphorus, played a significant role in the creation of these large algae blooms.

Tainter-Menomin with algae blooms

Phosphorus enters our lakes through various means, some are located very near our lakes and others are deceptively far. These contamination sources can also be very specific, like a single pipe outlet (“point sources”), or more broad like farmlands (“non-point sources”). Regardless of the source, the phosphorus that gets in is a major nutrient for algae, and makes it grow out of control.

So what has been done to address the issue?

Under the Clean Water Act, steps have been made to reduce this nutrient. We currently have laws in place that limit the amount of phosphorus that point sources can let into our lakes every year. Other measures such as phosphorus reductions in fertilizers and dish soaps are parts of an “upstream” reduction approach.

The Clean Water Act however, has only affected those “point sources” of phosphorus. Meanwhile, the non-point sources that have been contributing more and more phosphorus contamination are just now becoming the target of new regulations.

For a full timeline of water quality programs in Wisconsin history, check out this DNR page.

Algae accumulates on rocks in the Red Cedar watershed

Enter the revised strategy: Adaptive Management

The current system we use to reduce phosphorus counts on point sources of phosphorus pollution to reduce their own discharges by a set level. This level (represented in tons) is based on scientific research and surveys. In this way, we try to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the lakes by preventing an amount from ever entering it.

But ecosystems are complex creatures, and a reduction number does not always result in improved lakes. As we try to further reduce phosphorous levels in the lake, adaptive management allows the point sources to work together with non-point sources to get at the ultimate goal: improving lake water quality.

In the end, the beauty of adaptive management is that it will make it easier for polluters to meet their phosphorus reduction targets, but at the same time will measure their success on the actual health of the waterways

To learn more basics about the nuances of adaptive management, the DNR has put together a page comparing water quality trading and adaptive management goals

Good news, Bad news about the Great Lakes

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Door County Pier, Credit: James Jordan

Is there any good news about clean water?

Yes. But first, the bad.

Lake Erie is experiencing unprecedentedly  intense algae blooms, and Lake Michigan might not be far behind. The worst algae bloom in history severely contaminated the waters of western Lake Erie this summer, prompting concerns about whether the decades-long effort to clean up the lake may be undone by agricultural runoff and the spread of invasive species.

Lake Erie is the first line of attack, ahead of Lake Michigan, for the enormously harmful combination of polluted runoff and invasive species. The National Wildlife Federation today released a report documenting new and massive ecosystem breakdowns in the Great Lakes caused by interactions between excessive agricultural pollution and invasive zebra and quagga mussels. The report details the links between enormous algal blooms in Lake Erie that threaten the health of people and wildlife and a 95 percent decline in fish biomass in Lake Huron

Things are so bad that they’ve garnered the attention of the U.S. Senate. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, convened a hearing to discuss the causes and impacts of nutrient pollution in the United States and various approaches toward mitigating its effects. Sen. Cardin observed that, “Despite the protections of the Clean Water Act, the problem nationwide continues to grow… From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and from Long Island Sound to San Francisco Bay, we must address the pollution in America’s waters by dealing with all the pollution … through comprehensive efforts…”

This is a crisis in the Great Lakes system, and soon may be a crisis for Lake Michigan. There are many ways to approach a crisis.

Florida is illustrating the wrong way to do it. Most recently, Rich Budell, director of the office of Agricultural Water Policy at Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, criticized nutrient regulations at the hearing Sen. Cardin convened, despite acknowledging the nutrient pollution problems in Florida. Mr. Budell joins the ‘Wrong Direction’ club with his fellow Floridian, Rep. John Mica, who introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to gut the Clean Water Act.

President John F. Kennedy said, “In times of crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.”

Here is the good news: in the face of these horrible threats, Wisconsin is coming together. We aren’t fighting regulations on behalf of some industries at the expense of everyone else. We’re working together to find manageable solutions. Wisconsinites came together last year to pass an innovative set of rules to address phosphorus in our waterways. These rules let permittees avoid expensive technology costs in favor of finding cost-effective ways to restore water quality in the watershed. Throughout Wisconsin, permittees will be able to fund clean-up efforts from our largest source of nutrient pollution: agricultural runoff. Doing so will clean up our waters and allow us to avoid expensive phosphorus-control technology.

By working together to find solutions in these troubling environmental times, we can all look forward to a future of cleaner lakes.

-Contributed by Melissa Malott, water program director.

One minute can help protect our beautiful waters

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The Assembly Natural Resources Committee will hold a public hearing tomorrow on a bill that would put water-polluting, phosphorus-laden fertilizers back on store shelves.

A single pound of phosphorus pollution can result in 500 pounds of algae growing in our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams. Especially troublesome, it is responsible for the growth of toxic blue-green algae in our waters which closes beaches, hurts our economy and threatens the health of our families.

A recent video highlights the terrible impact blue-green algae blooms can have on the lives of Wisconsin residents:

Every bit of phosphorus we can help keep out of our waters will help make them cleaner and safer for us all to enjoy.
Please take one minute to send members of the committee a note asking them to protect our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams by opposing this bill!

-contributed by Sam Weis, communications director

How farmers can help keep our waters clean

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Wisconsin farmers are important. They grow the food we eat every day, help maintain our state’s economy, and can play and important role in keeping our lakes, rivers and streams clean and healthy.

Check out our most recent Youtube video to learn about what role farmers play in protecting our waters:

 

Contributed by Sam Weis, communications director.

Tuesday Trivia Answer: Algae Blooms Attack!

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Yesterday we asked a Tuesday Trivia question that utterly stumped our thousands of Facebook fans: “What do Madison, Wisconsin; Northern France; and Eastern China all have in common?”

The answer is an unfortunate one… All three are experiencing algae blooms that interfere with summer plans and generate headlines.

In China, a massive algae bloom is covering nearly 200 square miles of the Yellow sea in the Eastern part of the country. A recent article and blog post from CNN shows children playing in water covered in a mat of neon-green algae.

Boy and Father swim in mat of algae

A boy and his father swim in a mat of thick, green algae. credit: cnn.com

Luckily, this algae is not toxic, however, it is expected to cause environmental harm and hurt marine wildlife as it sucks oxygen out of the water.

In Northern France, the situation is even worse. “Lethal algae take over beaches in northern France,” read a recent headline in The Guardian. A noxious algae bloom on the beaches of Northern Brittany is keeping the normally bustling popular vacation beaches empty. Those who do venture onto the beach face grave consequences as is demonstrated by this clip:

“A man has also taken legal action after he was left seriously ill from breathing in fumes from the decomposing algae. Vincent Petit, a 27-year-old vet, had to be dragged unconscious from a patch of rotting algae a metre deep this month after the horse he was riding collapsed and died from fumes given off by the sludge on the beach. The horse died within minutes.”

No horses are collapsing and dying in Madison, but blue green algae blooms are closing beaches, threatening the health of our families, and disappointing those who are seeking relief from the heat in or by the water. As of this morning, three Madison beaches were closed as a result of blue-green algae, and one due to high bacteria levels. Clean Wisconsin’s own Melissa Malott explained how algae blooms occur and what is being done to address the problem in this recent WKOW story:

These severe examples of algae blooms demonstrate the dangerous path we’re currently on. Unless we work in Wisconsin and around the world to curb pollution, especially phosphorus pollution, we can expect problems like these not only to continue, but also to get worse.

A big thanks to all of those who ventured guesses on this week’s challenging Tuesday Trivia. Want to participate in the weekly fun? Make sure to follow us on Facebook!

Contributed by Sam Weis, communications director.

Phosphorus Pollution: A Drag on Wisconsin’s Economy

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A couple of weeks ago, we shared Peggy’s story with you, which speaks to the devastating health impacts of blue-green algae blooms caused by excess phosphorus pollution in our waters.

Peggy’s story was one of many that we heard while we visited Menomonie, Wisconsin, a community that experiences foul algae blooms in lakes Tainter and Menomin every year.

Today we bring you part two of our video series highlighting the impact of phosphorus pollution on Wisconsin — As you’ll see in the video, phosphorus pollution is a serious drag on the economies of communities throughout Wisconsin that, like Menomonie, experience algae blooms.

If we don’t act now to clean up our waters, we can expect more and more lakes to experience such blooms.

Please watch and share — this video is copyright free!

-Contributed by Sam Weis, Video by Daniel Mostaza

Green Lakes: The Tipping Point

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Sam Weis, our media specialist, recently wrote about the impact our visit to the Tainter-Menomin Lakes had on him. He called the lakes ticking time bombs because these gorgeous bodies of water would, in a matter of weeks, be green, toxic and dangerous. The magnitude of this issue is shocking to many people; frequently, I’m not sure people believe what I’m telling them about water quality problems until they see pictures.

My personal reaction to our trip was somewhat different. The problems with blue-green algae and other problems caused by rural runoff are no doubt shocking –how can the country that took a man to the moon nearly 50 years ago let such an important problem languish? – but I’ve been pondering this for years. What struck me more than anything was that this could be just the beginning. Lake health is not a black and white problem where you have good lakes and bad lakes, it’s a tipping point problem; as problems accumulate, there is a point at which the lake system can no longer manage the pollution. You know you’ve reached it when the lake glows green.

Lakes Tainter and Menomin are not bad lakes that we should categorize as green lakes; rather, they are merely more vulnerable to algae blooms than other Wisconsin lakes. If we continue to spill phosphorus and nutrients into our waterways across the state, other waters will start glowing green at that toxic tipping point.

The unease settling in me was validated with recent news that an Ohio lake succumbed to toxic blue-green algae contamination already – a full month before it has ever had algae warnings before. Beaches closed before the swimming season even begins. Bays and entire shorelines filled with a pea-soup-like mixture that you can’t step in or be near. Threats to people’s health and their pets.

I’m worried about this happening to Wisconsin waters earlier and earlier each year.

I like to talk about solutions, but solutions are only as good as the paper they’re dreamed up on if no one takes action. Fortunately, we’ve got a new tool to finally address our phosphorus and algae problems. The phosphorus rule has a management option that lets all of us work together with permitted entities to find the most cost-effective ways to clean up our waterways. The “effective” part of cost-effective is what’s important: we do have affordable options by which to actually clean up our waters.

We need to get started on them now.

-contributed by Melissa Malott, water program director

Phosphorus Rule Delay Removed from Budget

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Breaking news on the fight for clean water: leaders of the Joint Finance Committee announced today that they intended to remove the phosphorus rule delay from the budget. Here’s our press release with more detailed information:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2011

Contact: Amber Meyer Smith, 608.251.7020 ext. 16

Joint Finance Committee to Remove Phosphorus Rule Delay From Budget

Clean water rules back on track

MADISON – Joint Finance Committee leaders announced today that they plan to remove a provision from the state budget that would have delayed the implementation of Wisconsin’s phosphorus rule by two years.

“The delay of the phosphorus rule is a non-fiscal measure that has no business being in the budget, and we applaud the Joint Finance Committee’s decision to remove it,” said Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations at Clean Wisconsin. “The federal government lists nearly half of Wisconsin’s waters as impaired due to phosphorus runoff and other discharges. Wisconsin residents demand that we begin cleaning up our waters now, not later.”

Excess phosphorus in waterways results in the unsightly and smelly algae blooms frequently seen in summer. A single pound of phosphorus can create over 500 pounds of algae. At its worst, blue-green algae can form, which is toxic to humans, pets and wildlife. In some parts of the state, algae blooms have become so bad that the air becomes unhealthy to breathe and people are developing serious illnesses.

Last year, Wisconsin enacted the phosphorus rule, which limits the discharge of phosphorus from wastewater dischargers. A broad group of stakeholders, including agriculture, industry, municipalities and environmentalists, crafted the rule package to provide flexible and cost-effective ways to achieve significant phosphorus reductions. In March, Gov. Walker proposed to delay the implementation of the phosphorus rule by two years through the biennial budget.

“Algae blooms have become a massive problem in Wisconsin, and the phosphorus rule is an important part of the solution,” said Smith. “It doesn’t make any sense to delay an innovative clean water compromise that has already gone into effect.”

While the Joint Finance Committee’s move today will remove the delay from the budget, some legislators have discussed introducing the delay as a separate piece of legislation.

“The phosphorus rule is good for Wisconsin, and we’re happy that a delay will be removed from the budget,” said Smith. “The longer we wait to clean up our waters, the more costly solutions become.”

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-Contributed by Sam Weis, media specialist

Tell your legislators not to delay and repeal clean water rules!

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Clean water rules are under attack in the Capitol! Governor Walker’s budget proposes to delay the phosphorus rule by two years, and the Joint Finance Committee recently voted to repeal NR151, a vital rule package that protects our waters from pollution running off of farm fields and city streets.

These important measures help stand between our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams and pollution like cow manure, pesticides, oil and other toxins. Repealing or delaying them leaves our waters extremely vulnerable!

Wisconsin’s waters are inexpressibly important to our life and to our economy. It’s hard to imagine Wisconsin without our wonderful lakes, rivers and streams.

The good news is that you can help stop the attack on clean water in Wisconsin. By clicking this link, you can tell your legislators not to delay or repeal clean water rules in Wisconsin. By showing legislators the number of their constituents who are passionate about clean water, we can make a difference!

-Contributed by Sam Weis, media specialist

Committee Votes to Repeal Clean Water Rules

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Unfortunate news to report today…  

Last night the Joint Finance Committee voted to pass a measure that would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to repeal and recreate NR151, one of the most important rules that helps protect Wisconsin waters.

For more information, please check out the press release below.  Also, please stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you more information on this and asking you to take action in the coming days!

The release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2011

Committee Votes to Repeal Clean Water Rules

Measure must be fixed to protect Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams

MADISON – In a surprising move last night, the Joint Finance Committee voted on party lines to pass a measure that would require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to repeal and recreate NR151, a decade-old rule package that protects Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams from pollution running off of farm fields, construction zones and city streets.

“These flexible, commonsense rules are some of the only things that stand between our beautiful waters and pollution like cow manure, pesticides, oil and other toxic substances,” said Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations at Clean Wisconsin. “Repealing this package would leave Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes, rivers and streams extremely vulnerable.”

Pollution that runs off of farm fields, parking lots, construction zones and city streets, referred to as nonpoint source pollution, is the major cause of polluted waters in Wisconsin. Since 2002, NR151 has helped reduce this pollution by setting standards for manure and nutrient runoff from agricultural lands and by requiring developers and municipalities to reduce runoff from urban areas.

“Runoff is the largest source of pollution in Wisconsin’s waters,” said Smith. “Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams are central to the identity and economic health of our state. Erasing one of the cornerstone protections for our waters is dangerous and shortsighted.”

While the measure does charge the DNR with recreating the rule, advocates agree that this would likely result in weakened standards that would fail to adequately protect Wisconsin’s waters, nearly half of which are already listed as impaired by the federal government.

“Repealing decade-old rules and starting from scratch would create great regulatory uncertainty and leave our beautiful waters at risk,” said Smith. “The people of Wisconsin care deeply about the health of our waters and this dangerous provision must be removed from the budget.”

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Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. 608-251-7020, information@cleanwisconsin.org, www.cleanwisconsin.org.

-Contributed by Sam Weis