Legislative panel appointed to study Lake Erie’s health
After a state COLUMBUS — panel at least temporarily shelved Gov. John Kasich’s move to have nearly half of Lake Erie’s western basin watershed declared distressed, legislative leaders have appointed a panel to study the pollution problem.
Half of the task force’s 14 members hail from northwest Ohio.
“A healthy Lake Erie is directly tied to the success and health of our state,” said state Sen. Bob Hackett, R-London, the chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee, who will co-chair the task force with his House counterpart, state Rep. Brian Hill, R- Zanesville.
Both were highly critical of Kasich’s move last month to order his administration to ask the independent Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission to designate a large chunk of the Maumee River Basin in distress because of high levels of phosphorous runoff that fuels toxic algal growth.
The designation would have triggered the writing of tighter rules on the use of fertilizers by the nearly 7,000 farmers in eight full and partial watersheds that flow into the river and ultimately Lake Erie.
The request won general support of environmental groups and ship captains but faced severe pushback from agriculture.
“The members of this group are focused on evaluating the effectiveness of steps we’ve taken so far, as well as making sure we have the best information possible on issues and practices that will help ensure a vibrant lake and clean water for all,” Hackett said.
The panel will conduct its first meeting Aug. 28 at the Statehouse but promises a northwest Ohio session this fall. Lawmakers are currently on summer recess.
The panel includes a handful of lawmakers, including the two chairmen, who do not represent areas close to the lake but have strong ties to agriculture. The task force members from northwest Ohio include Sens. Randy Gardner, Edna Brown, and Rob McColley, and Reps. Mike Sheehy, Steve Arndt, Jim Hoops, and Riordan McClain.
The Soil and Water Conservation Commission, after hearing testimony from both sides of the issue, voted 4-2 last month to put off a decision on the Kasich administration’s request, assigning the issue to a subcommittee for further discussions.
The request would have redesignated the Platter Creek, Little Flat Rock Creek, Little Auglaize River, Eagle Creek, Auglaize River, Blanchard River, St. Marys River, and Ottawa River watersheds or subwatersheds.