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Record rain flushes phosphorous
Blooms could be severe By Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com If you are hoping that there is any chance that harmful algal blooms will not occur in Lake Erie again this year, think again. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, 2015 looks to be the second worst year ever for HABs, based on a phosphorous load from the Maumee River that has already exceeded recommended target loads. The NOAA, a federal agency, and its research partners, using an ensemble modeling approach, predict that the 2015 western Lake Erie bloom season will not only be among the most severe in recent years, it could become the second most severe behind the record-setting 2011 bloom. While scientists say it could take 5 to
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While we are forecasting a severe bloom, much of the lake will be fine most of the time.
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10 years to receive the 40 percent reduction they are recommending, this year’s total phosphorous load from the Maumee is already at 1,586 tons, way over the 860 tons recommended to keep HABs in check. That does not include additional phosphorous that could load into the lake yet this year. The scientists say the Maumee River’s spring load has proven to provide an accurate forecast based on model forecasts, and all of its tributaries in Northwest Ohio contribute. Scientists say a major point source for phosphorous loaded from the Maumee River originates with farm fertilizer and animal manure. They add that the result of the phosphorous that feeds the cyanobacterial blooms include a higher cost for cities and local governments to treat their drinking water, as well as risk to swimmers in high concentration areas, and a nuisance to boaters when blooms form. These effects will vary in locations and severity with
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It is your responsibility as a citizen, protected by the soldier, to make informed decisions... John Szozda See page 11
winds, and will peak in August or early September. The scientists say the prediction does not necessarily mean Toledo’s drinking water will be deemed too toxic to drink like it was one weekend last August — measures have already been taken by the City of Toledo to treat water with additional soluble carbon to help eliminate the toxicity. Tadd Nicholson, executive director of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association and Kirk Merritt, executive director of the Ohio Soybean Council, responded, “Grain farmers from around the state expressed concern today about the Lake Erie algae forecast. This issue affects all Ohioans and farmers will continue to demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement by increasing conservation practices, investing in vital research and participating in ongoing educational programs. “While these actions will make a difference, one variable that farmers cannot control is rainfall. Unfortunately Ohio has experienced record rainfall this year – making a difficult and complicated problem even more so. Rain can be a major factor in large runoff events, not only in agriculture but among all sources of nutrient loss. “Nutrients are a natural and necessary part of growing crops and always will be. The good news is Ohio has done an excellent job of keeping the focus on finding practical, science-based solutions to keep the nutrients on the fields where they belong. We do not have to choose between food production and clean water. Both can be achieved.” Severity exceeds 2014 The bloom will be expected to measure 8.7 on the severity index with a range from 8.1 to potentially as high as 9.5. This is more severe than the last year’s 6.5, and may equal or exceed 2013, which had the second worse bloom in this century. The severity index runs from a high of 10, which corresponds to the 2011 bloom, the worst ever observed, to zero. A severity above 5 indicates blooms of particular concern. “While we are forecasting a severe bloom, much of the lake will be fine most of the time. The bloom will develop from west to east in the Lake Erie Western Basin, beginning this month. It is important to note that these effects will vary with winds, and will peak in September,” said Richard Stumpf, Ph.D., NOAA’s ecological forecasting applied research lead at NCCOS, who formally presented the forecast in a media event and science presentation at Ohio State University’s Stone Lab on Lake Erie Thursday afternoon. Holly Bamford, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for the National Ocean Service performing duties of the assistant secretary of commerce for conservation and management, added, “This is the fourth seasonal harmful algal bloom outlook for Lake Erie that NOAA has issued. “NOAA’s ecological forecasting initiative, including this Lake Erie seasonal forecast, the NOAA weekly HAB bulletin, Continued on page 2
Boomfest!
Mark Poddany enjoys the fireworks at Boomfest, held on July 4th at Oak Shade Grove. The annual event included live music, a car show, and kids' activities. (Photo courtesy of Pam Klatt)
Supreme Court rules
Officer lacked authority By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com The application of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and a similar article of the Ohio Constitution was a major part of a court case that emanated from a traffic stop in 2011 by a Lake Township police officer on I-280. The Ohio Supreme Court last month affirmed a decision by the Sixth District Court of Appeals that the officer lacked authority to enforce a lane violation on an interstate highway and the ensuing search of the vehicle was unreasonable. The Supreme Court also agreed the appeals court prop-
erly ordered drugs seized during the search to be excluded from evidence. “A traffic stop for a minor misdemeanor made outside a police officer’s statutory jurisdiction or authority violates the guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures established by Article 1, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution,” the court ruled. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and justices Paul Pfeiffer, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger, and William O’Neill affirmed the appeals court decision while justices Judith French and Sharon Kennedy dissented. The driver, Terrance Brown, of Detroit, Continued on page 2