Local Citizens Press for Great Lakes Action By Congress
February 24, 2016
By: Tom Jackson, Toledo Blade
February 24, 2016
With Ohio battling to turn around the harmful algal bloom problem in Lake Erie, a group of northern Ohio residents aren't leaving Congressional action to chance.
More than a dozen northern Ohio residents are in Washington, D.C., this week, joining citizens from other Great Lakes states who are talking to federal lawmakers to press for action on Great Lakes water issues.
The local delegation includes Larry Fletcher, executive director of Lake Erie Shores and Islands, the tourism bureau for Ottawa and Erie counties.
The effort is part of Great Lakes Day, an annual event that brings more than 100 American citizens to Capitol Hill to talk to their senators and representatives.
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition organized the effort. The group is bringing its annual conference to Hotel Breakers in Sandusky on Sept. 20 through 22, Fletcher said.
Many different issues are being brought up with lawmakers, Fletcher said.
President Obama is proposing to cut the Great Lakes Restoration by $50 million; advocates want to keep funding at the same level.
The president also wants to cut funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides low interest loans for sewer system improvements. Advocates think such cuts make no sense when sewer overflows contribute to harmful algal blooms.
The president wants to increase funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and environmentalists think that's a good idea.
Fletcher said Great Lakes advocates also want a federal coordinator to deal with Great Lakes water quality issues.
"We have a federal coordinator for Asian carp strategies, but not one focused specifically on health of the lakes issues," Fletcher said.
He said his group also is urging lawmakers not to cut farm bill programs that help farmers reduce runoff from their fields.
Fletcher, who arrived in Washington Tuesday and will stay until late Thursday, said he attended an early meeting Wednesday with U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and was busy meeting with other lawmakers — or at least their aides — including Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo.
He said other northern Ohio residents who are Washington include Catawba Island Club general manager Jack Madison; Jim Stouffer, president of the Lake Erie Improvement Association; charter boat captains Paul Pacholski and Dave Spangler; Lucas County commissioner Carol Contrada and Sandy Bihn of Lake Erie Waterkeepers.