NEMWI Holds Briefing on HABs Research

The Northeast-Midwest Institute held a briefing today, Monday, March 18^th, on Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) research. Record HABs driven by nutrient loadings have affected water quality, fish populations, tourism, and the economy across the entire Great Lakes region. A bloom in western Lake Erie in August 2014 resulted in a drinking water advisory for the city of Toledo, Ohio, restricting water use for 400,000 people for three days. These events throughout the region severely impacted the quality of life to all living in the Great Lakes community.  

Dr. Reagan Errera of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA GLERL) and Rick Stumpf of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science discussed NOAA's research. Dr. Stumpf explained how NOAA tracks HABs, including the systems in place to provide real-time updates on location and severity of blooms as well as forecasting tools that allow NOAA to predict future HABs. Both of these strategies provide invaluable information to decision-makers who protect public health and safety. Dr. Errera detailed GLERL’s efforts to learn more about HABs on the ground. They collect and analyze water samples to gather data about the toxins present and how HABs change over time. GLERL also tests innovative water treatment practices to figure out new ways to combat blooms.

Dr. Ruth Briland, the Environmental Supervisor in the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Surface Water, also participated in the webinar. She spoke on Ohio’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus, particularly as it pertains to the Maumee River, which feeds into Lake Erie. Dr. Briland also discussed the adaptive management strategies that gives agencies the tools and flexibility to meet both present need and future challenges.

Dr. Sandra Kosek-Sills, an environmental specialist at the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, gave an overview of Ohio’s domestic action plan. She discussed the knowledge gaps that research aims to fill, which is critical to evaluating progress and making the necessary adjustments to management. One question with broad implications is how phosphorus moves through an ecosystem. A more comprehensive understanding of how phosphorus gets from point A to point B allows for more varied and efficient options to remove that phosphorus. Dr. Kosek-Sills also mentioned recent technological innovations that might offer new ways to treat, control, and reduce HABs, including an Electric Cell Lysis system that could be used to treat manure.

Finally, Dr. Chris Winslow, Director of Ohio Sea Grant and Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory,  updated attendees on the Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI) and the Lake Erie Aquatic Research Network (LEARN). HABRI assists state agencies with their HABs management, and gives them the research insights they need to make informed decisions. HABRI and LEARN are helping to improve every step of HABs management, from helping water utilities track blooms from the source and improve their treatment capacity to researching how algal toxins affect humans and fish.

If you missed the briefing, you can watch it here.

NEMWI Continues Its

Voices from the Great Lakes Program

The Northeast-Midwest Institute's Voices from the Great Lakes Program provides a forum for experts and scholars to give insights into issues that impact the Great Lakes region. VGL is a series of guest essays from leading Great Lakes researchers, policymakers, stakeholders, and more that will showcase key perspectives that help shape federal policy discussions in Washington, D.C.

Below is an excerpt from the conclusion of a three-part series on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, written by Cam Davis, vice president at GEI Consultants, and elected commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. If you missed it, read the introduction and parts one and two here.

Read part three in its entirety here.

"If leading into the Legacy Act victory the region learned that multi-sector and bipartisan support was critical, it learned afterwards that planning—making the unyielding scientific, economic, and strategic case for more holistic Great Lakes restoration with progress milestones—was key. These lessons can yield—and are yielding—results that can continue to benefit the region’s future.

The region was also understanding that, as a swing region, it had reason to articulate its priorities and push for them to be fulfilled. Just as it had been the case in 2000, and as the nation headed into the 2008 presidential election, the region flexed its muscles again."

Read part three of Cam’s Voice in its entirety here or at

nemw.org/reports-output/vgl

Also, sign up here to get new Voices directly in your inbox the moment they publish, and/or our Weekly Update and notices about NEMWI events.

NEMWI Releases Analysis of the

President’s FY 2025 Budget

Despite the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process being only half-concluded, work on FY 2025 has officially begun with the release of President Biden’s budget. Many provisions impacting the Great Lakes were included.

The $3.7 trillion proposal is a mixed bag. It includes an 8.4% increase over FY 2023 levels and a 20% increase over the FY 2024 appropriation passed earlier this month for the Environmental Protection Agency, but would cut funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by 24.4%. It would increase funding for NOAA’s climate change programs, but would sharply cut that agency’s budget in other areas, particularly ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research.

The budget includes $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, equal to FY 2024 levels. It also would increase funding for the Soo Locks by $6.6 million to $264 million, and maintain FY 2024 levels for the Great Lakes Authority ($5 million) and the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study ($3 million).

The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI) has provided this summary of the proposed budget highlighting some of the key agencies and accounts pertaining to the Great Lakes, and will continue to monitor the FY 2025 appropriations process.

Connect With the Northeast-Midwest Institute

on Social Media

The Northeast-Midwest Institute is on social media with new updates and information on its regional research and policy education program and with announcements for upcoming briefings and events. NEMWI is posting our research reports on current regional issues and ongoing policy education on the page to make keeping up with our policy work easier than ever. The Institute also is updating the page with announcements of upcoming policy briefings and webinars. NEMWI is excited for the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible 

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