The United States and Canada Release Draft Phosphorus Load Reduction Targets to Combat Lake Erie Algal Blooms

To combat the growing threat of toxic and nuisance algal development in Lake Erie, the United States and Canada have committed, through the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, to develop revised binational phosphorus load reduction targets for Lake Erie by February, 2016.

In response to this commitment, in 2013, federal agencies, state and provincial governments, municipal and local governments, and many other partners convened a binational subcommittee to review the interim phosphorus targets for Lake Erie contained within the Agreement, and recommend new targets for Lake Erie.

The following factsheet outlines the subcommittee’s recommendations:

• Recommended Binational Phosphorus Targets to Combat Lake Erie Algal Blooms (PDF, 1.2 MB)

The subcommittee’s recommendations are based on information contained in the following technical report:

• Recommended Phosphorus Loading Targets for Lake Erie. Annex 4 Objectives and Targets Development Task Team Final Report to the Nutrients Annex Subcommittee (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Canada and the United States consulted on the recommended phosphorus load reduction targets for Lake Erie from June 30 to August 31, 2015.