Michigan’s fight against Lake Erie pollution didn’t work. What happens next?

  • Since the 1990s, algae blooms have become increasingly common each summer in western Lake Erie. Blooms are caused by an overabundance of nutrients, namely phosphorus, that spills into the lake off farms. NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
    Since the 1990s, algae blooms have become increasingly common each summer in western Lake Erie. Blooms are caused by an overabundance of nutrients, namely phosphorus, that spills into the lake off farms. NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

    LANSING

    Michigan and its neighbors have missed a 2025 deadline to curb the farm pollution that feeds toxic algal blooms in western Lake Erie, despite 10 years of work and millions of dollars spent on the effort.

    Now, state officials are revamping their strategy. But they’re not setting a new deadline for now.