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Governor announces Lake Erie water quality improvement plan

Governor announces Lake Erie water quality improvement plan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is outlining her strategy to protect Lake Erie from agricultural runoff. Michigan Public Radio’s Colin Jackson has more.

The plan involves land conservation…and education aimed at reducing the amount of phosphorus that gets into the lake.

Jennifer Holton is a spokesperson for Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. She says the state is working on several projects to cut down on runoff.

“It really is everyone working together. Whether it’s conservation districts, working with our farmers, we want to make quantifiable improvements in water quality.”

Phosphorus is a common fertilizer on farms…but it can also cause toxic cyanobacteria blooms that hurt water quality in Lake Erie.