5-Year Binational Adaptive Management Evaluation for Lake Erie (2017-2021): Measuring the Ecosystem Response to Nutrients

Posted: September 23, 2024

Under the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States use an Adaptive Management approach for addressing eutrophication issues in Lake Erie. The Annex 4 (Nutrients) Subcommittee’s Adaptive Management Task Team conducted an evaluation to assess changes in phosphorus loads and progress towards achieving the related Lake Ecosystem Objectives outlined under Annex 4 of the Agreement.

This report covers the 5-year period from 2017-2021 and presents the first Binational Adaptive Management Evaluation conducted since the adoption of phosphorus load reduction targets in 2016 and the implementation of nutrient management domestic action plans in 2018. This evaluation assesses phosphorus loading to Lake Erie and resulting ecosystem conditions related to harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and nuisance algae.

5-Year Binational Adaptive Management Evaluation for Lake Erie (PDF 7 MB)