Michigan Awarded Money by EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing $8.6 million in federal grants to Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.  The money is set for programs to reduce phosphorus runoff  that causes algae blooms in western Lake Erie.  The algae bloom caused a ban on drinking tap water for 400,000 people, the ban lasted two days in August.

Susan Hedman, Regional Director for the EPA said Monday that the grants will help provide technical assistance to farmers which in turn should lower the amount of phosphorus loads entering Lake Erie tributaries.

There will be more federal funding announced soon by the EPA.

The levels of toxic bacteria that can cause liver damage in humans and can kill animals has increased in Lake Erie.  A severe outbreak of the blue-green algae is what caused he ban on drinking in Toledo, Ohio and southeastern Michigan.