In the 1970s Lake Erie was in peril. Silt runoff from farms and PCBs from local manufacturing were choking the fisheries and poisoning our drinking water. Our communities and the state came together to address both problems. By regulating industry and prudently supporting farms, we have significantly reduced pollution in the lake.

Lake Erie is in trouble again. Nitrogen and phosphate runoff have led to toxic green algal blooms. We can have healthy farms and clean water. We must come together to modernize farming and transition to new farming practices. We can support local farmers with new technology to retain crop nutrients and ease the strain on our drinking water. Farmers should not bear this responsibility alone.