Expanding Water Quality Monitoring in Western Lake Erie Basin

By Andi Anderson

This announcement outlines a significant initiative by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to address water quality issues in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) through enhanced monitoring and research efforts.

MDARD is partnering with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research, and LimnoTech for a total funding of $4.86 million over the next five years. Additionally, the Erb Family Foundation is contributing $600,000 to support this initiative.

The primary objective of this initiative is to expand water quality monitoring in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to better understand and combat harmful algal blooms (HABs). These blooms, caused by excessive algae growth, pose risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment.

The research effort will focus on improving understanding of nutrient losses and transport in the WLEB, with a specific emphasis on phosphorus pollution, which exacerbates algal bloom formation. The initiative will employ holistic farm management approaches, including soil health and regenerative agriculture principles.

Monitoring will commence in five priority HUC-12 sub-watersheds in the WLEB. These sub-watersheds were selected for focused activities, including finer-scale water quality monitoring, agricultural inventories, prioritized Best Management Practices (BMP) implementation, and cost assessments to achieve a 40 percent total phosphorus reduction goal.

In-stream data collection will include parameters such as stream flow, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, turbidity, and total suspended solids. Additionally, soil moisture, precipitation, and tile outlet sensors will be deployed throughout the watershed to better understand nutrient fate and transport.

The complexity of nutrient loss drivers in the WLEB, such as variable weather, cropping systems, and farm management, makes understanding, tracking, and predicting nutrient loads challenging. The initiative aims to address these challenges by deploying higher spatial density monitoring instrumentation to improve understanding and prioritization of conservation and land management practices.

The announcement encourages community involvement in efforts to reduce pollution and protect Michigan’s natural resources. The Taking Action on Lake Erie website is highlighted as a resource for individuals interested in contributing to these efforts.

The partnership and funding announced by MDARD represent a significant commitment to addressing water quality issues in the WLEB through enhanced monitoring and research efforts. This initiative aims to improve understanding of nutrient loss drivers and facilitate more effective conservation strategies to mitigate harmful algal blooms and protect the region's water resources.

Photo Credit: Michigan State University