GLIN==> Ohio Lake Erie Commission to Fund Studies on Algal Blooms and Fisheries

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2009

 

 

OLEC to Fund Studies of Lake Erie Algal Blooms and Fisheries

 

TOLEDO, OH - The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) will provide grants for
four studies that will investigate the causes and impacts of Lake Erie algal
blooms, as well as physical habitat distribution within the Lake Erie
fishery.

 

On March 25, Commission members approved the latest round of Lake Erie
Protection Fund small grants and targeted priority grants. The grants fund a
variety of projects that provide direct benefit to Lake Erie and its
tributary watersheds in Ohio.

 

The University of Toledo, Department of Civil Engineering will receive
$15,000 for a project to determine the potential sediment contribution to
Microcystis (a blue-green algae) bloom formation in the western Lake Erie
Basin. Included in the research work, the project will address phosphorus in
lake sediment as a potential trigger for algal blooms through resuspension.

 

The Ohio State University, Aquatic Research Laboratory will receive $14,750
to use remotely sensed data - satellite imagery - to help better understand
physical habitat distribution in western Lake Erie and its influence on
habitat use and recruitment of walleye and yellow perch. Also included is a
test of the hypothesis that Maumee River discharge regulates yellow perch
recruitment through nursery habitat creation. The research will create a
database that will be made available to the research community and public.

 

The Ohio State University Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal
Biology will receive $167, 040 for a study about phosphorus load, transport
and biological use. Lake Erie appears to be undergoing a period of
increasing eutrophication (excess nutrients) and it is unknown if this is
due to increased biologically available phosphorus, a change in species
ability to use phosphorus or some other related factor. The project will
help to determine how dissolved reactive phosphorus and increased
Microcystis and Lyngbya (algae) blooms are related and where the blooms
initiate.

 

The Ohio State University, Ohio Ag Research & Development Center will
receive $74,955 for a two part project. First, an evaluation of soil testing
laboratories will be completed using a series of 600 soil tests sent to the
twelve laboratories that primarily serve Ohio. The evaluation will focus on
the analysis of the submitted samples and the recommendations provided to
farmers based on sample results. Second, a data mining will be completed to
review testing results for phosphorus and other soil characteristics from
the labs.

 

The Lake Erie Protection Fund was established to help finance research and
implementation of projects aimed at protecting and preserving Lake Erie and
its watershed. This fund is supported by Ohioans each time they purchase a
Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or renew the
Toledo Harbor Lighthouse plate as designed by noted Lake Erie artist Ben
Richmond. During the past 16 years, the commission has raised more than $9.0
million and funded more than 275 projects.

 

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving
Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and
ecosystem and promoting economic development in the region. The director of
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as the commission's
chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments
of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency.

 

-30-

 

For Further Information Contact: 

Edwin J. Hammett, Lake Erie Commission

419.245.2514 

 

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