Reps. sponsor bill for algal bloom research

Two Northeast Ohio U.S. Reps. are sponsoring a bill aimed at harmful algal blooms.

Northeast Ohio U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce and Marcy Kaptur are sponsoring a bill aimed at helping coastal communities better prepare for, mitigate, and intervene in harmful algal bloom events.

The toxic algae that spread across Lake Erie in 2017 was the third worst on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In a harmful algal bloom event, algae grow rapidly and release dangerous toxins that end up in shellfish, fish, marine mammals, and birds. This threatens fisheries, drinking water, human health, local economies, and aquatic ecosystems.

Joyc e , R-Bainbr idge Township, and Kaptur, DToledo, are sponsoring the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017 bill along with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon.

The sponsors say the bill improves upon existing law by

• Increasing inter-agency, regional, state, and local collaboration to address harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events

• Establishing a process for declaration of an “Event of National Significance”, which triggers-disaster like funding to be available for affected communities

• Allowing private donations to help fund recovery in an event of national significance.

The bill also directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to create a program about program research and activities to monitor, mitigate, and intervene in harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events.

“A key component of addressing our shared challenge of harmful algal blooms is to improve our understanding of when and where algal blooms will occur,” said Kaptur, who is the co-chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. “After the massive algal bloom we had this summer with over 1,000 square miles of Lake Erie affected, the research our bill advances is more critical than ever. 11 million people rely on Lake Erie for drink- ing water and it is incumbent upon us to protect this precious natural resource. Let’s pass this bill and keep up the work.”

Joyce said it’s time to better understand the effects of harmful algal blooms “so we can do what is needed to address them.”

“This is about our lakes, rivers, and other major bodies of water here in Ohio and across the nation — where we swim, fish, and most importantly draw our drinking water,” he said. “We are fortunate to have the Great Lakes as such vital resources to our communities. By studying the effects of possible harmful algae, we will know how to preserve these resources and keep our waters safe, fresh, and clean.”

Bonamici, who co-chairs the Oceans and Estuary Caucuses, said costal communities rely on a healthy ocean, as do shellfish, fish, marine mammals, birds, and ecosystems around the world.

“Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events threaten the health of our oceans, lakes, and rivers,” she said. “Our bipartisan legislation will help communities better protect against and respond quickly to harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events.”

Joyce and Kaptur