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Task Force releases Phase II report

The Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorus Task Force has released their Phase II report.

“The best characterization is that it pushes deeper and farther into some of the more technical issues related to this issue,” said Gail Hesse, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “The report establishes the targets and provides recommendations on a wide array of topics and digs deeper specifically into several different tools that will be important and useful for the agricultural community going forward.”

While the report includes 20 different recommendations, Ohio EPA director Scott Nally says they are not all directed at agriculture.

“There are a couple, like number 15, long-term control plans for CSO, recommendations that continue the implementation of those, lawn care industry recommendations on education and outreach, that’s number 16,” Nally said. “Just an example out of the 20 that are not just ag related.”

In an interview with Brownfield, Jim Zehringer, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) said the Phase II report does not mandate anything, but it does promote discussion.

The Director also believes the 40 percent reduction in the amount of nutrient loading called for in the report, while hefty, it is achievable.

“This report is going to be very helpful to encourage farmers to do soil testing, which is extremely important and we think that just by that measure alone we can help get to the goal of 40 percent,” Zehringer said.

Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Dave Daniels says that with the release of the Phase II report, it’s important the agricultural community understand that progress is already being made.

“Farmers have heard there are problems and they have worked hard to address them,” Daniels said. “Hopefully we are able to provide opportunities for them to come in and learn about some Best Management Practices (BMP) that might help them in not only reducing the phosphorus load into the lakes, streams and waterways, but also through the process save them money in their production.”

While there are a number of folks both in Ohio and in other states interested in this report, Jeff Reuter with the Ohio Sea Grant Program says important not to declare victory just because we have the report.

“The report simply maps out how we move forward to solve the problem,” said Reuter. “I think the report is exceptional in that regard.”

Ohio EPA Director Nally says the next step is to execute the recommendations.

Audio: Gail Hesse, Dir. Zehringer, ODNR, Dir. Daniels, ODA, Dir. Nally, Ohio EPA (8:30 mp3)