For immediate release: July 11, 2019
Toronto, Ont. – Environmental groups are calling the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) forecast of a significant algae bloom for Lake Erie a reminder that federal and provincial efforts to address runoff pollution into the lake have been woefully inadequate.
NOAA predicts this year’s bloom, forecasted to be 7.5 out of 10 on their index, will be much more severe than 2018. The severity could range from 6 to 9 on the scale, and has the potential to be one of the worst blooms since 2015.
“It is clear from today’s announcement that we need to be moving swiftly to address the algae blooms plaguing Lake Erie,” said Jill Ryan, Executive Director of Freshwater Future Canada. “Ontario and Canada must step up to the plate and release their work plan to combat this increasingly severe threat to our drinking water, tourism and recreation, and the Lake Erie ecosystem”.
“Work plans to implement the Action Plan were due months ago, but they still haven’t been completed,” said Raj Gill, Great Lakes Program Director with the Canadian Freshwater Alliance. “We simply can’t afford these delays. At this rate Ontario will fail to meet its pollution reduction commitments by the 2025 deadline, and it is putting incredible stress on Lake Erie.”