Legacy phosphorus loads, future solutions: Michigan’s push to reduce phosphorus in Lake Erie
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EmailLearn about efforts to improve water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
Nutrient runoff in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) is one of the most pressing problems in Michigan today. When excess phosphorus enters Lake Erie, it can cause algal blooms. Recent research has shown that legacy phosphorus plays a dominant role in water quality degradation of Lake Erie. While phosphorus loading has been reduced to some extent since the Toledo Water Crisis in 2014, there is still quite a bit of progress needed to achieve nutrient reduction goals.
Recently, Michigan State University Extension partnered with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the University of Michigan Water Center to host public meetings and webinars to share information on efforts that have been made to improve water quality in Lake Erie. The events featured top experts sharing important updates on safeguarding water quality in southeast Michigan. Here are some key points from some of the presentations along with recordings to view at your convenience.
Key takeaways on the status of the WLEB
In 2018, leaders in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario set a goal to reduce phosphorus entering Lake Erie by 20% by 2020 and 40% of the 2008 baseline by 2025. The goal of this reduction is to address drinking water concerns, as expressed in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Phosphorus is the main nutrient target because the excessive phosphorus in Lake Erie can cause harmful algal blooms. In 2008, 1762 metric tons of phosphorus entered Lake Erie from Michigan’s portion of the WLEB, so a 40% reduction means only 706 metric tons of phosphorus can enter Lake Erie from Michigan annually. If the 40% phosphorus load reduction is met, scientists predict that microcystin levels will remain below levels that are safe to drink in Lake Erie.
In 2020, Michigan met the 20% reduction goal, mainly because of reductions in phosphorus loading from wastewater treatment plants (point sources) on the Detroit River. According to the latest phosphorus monitoring data from the River Raisin and Upper Maumee River, Michigan is not on track to meet the 40% reduction by 2025. A report from MDARD shows that the 40% reduction goal was only met once since 2008, which is the baseline used for target setting (Figure 2). Most of the remaining reductions need to come from nonpoint sources from agricultural lands in the River Raisin and Upper Maumee River Watersheds. In May 2025, Michigan released the 2025 Domestic Action Plan with an updated strategy to reach the 40% reduction.
WLEB water quality monitoring and research
Researchers from University of Michigan and Heidelburg University share the latest update on Lake Erie water quality monitoring and algal blooms in this video recorded from presentations given at webinars and meetings in 2024.
The presentations highlight water quality monitoring data indicating that phosphorus loading is still a problem because it continues to feed large algal blooms. Largely because of adjustments made by wastewater treatment facilities, Michigan is on track to hit the 40% reduction in phosphorus loading from point sources. The same data also show that phosphorus loading from nonpoint sources is not decreasing.
Additionally, because of work being done at Wright State University and Heidelberg University, we now know that nitrogen loading is causing the algal blooms to be more toxic. Increased nitrate concentrations in Lake Erie create conditions favorable to algal species that produce microcystin toxin, which were the cause of the 2014 Toledo water crisis. Other research from the Agricultural Research Service is showing that fields that have very high soil test phosphorus, likely from years of over application of nutrients, are one of the main culprits of soluble phosphorus loss from farm fields.
At the end of the presentation, researchers highlighted work showing that conservation practices like wetlands and controlled drainage can successfully reduce nutrient loading from nonpoint sources.
WLEB water quality policy
The 2018 Domestic Action Plan, developed by MDARD, Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and informed by stakeholders across the state and other Great Lakes partners, created a pathway to reach the 40% reduction plan. The Domestic Action Plan is required to be updated on a five-year cycle and is currently being developed with input from the WLEB Community Advisory Group and agency staff working in the WLEB. The final Domestic Action Plan Update will be posted on the MDARD’s WLEB website and EGLE’s Taking Action on Lake Erie website.
To address the water quality issues in Lake Erie, the agencies have identified five priority watersheds: Saline River (headwaters of the River Raisin), Stony Creek (South Branch of the River Raisin), S.S. LaPointe Drain, Lime Creek and Nile Ditch. The goal is to accelerate conservation practice implementation in these watersheds and increase water quality monitoring to measure and track progress.
Some of the state programs in place to support conservation practices are the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program and the Nonpoint Source Program for watershed conservation planning and implementation (EGLE), a nearly 400 acre wetland restoration that is treating agriculture runoff at the newly created Seneca State Game Area. The latest program announcement is the EGLE Soil Health Incentive Program, which is offering incentive payments to WLEB farmers for practices including cover crops, equipment upgrades for precision nutrient management, along with other practices. Contact your local WLEB conservation district for information and to enroll (Note: only farmers in the Michigan portion of the WLEB are eligible).
MDARD has partnered with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, LimnoTech and the Michigan State University Institute of Water Research on a WLEB Expanded Water Quality Monitoring Network to monitor water quality in the five priority sub watersheds in an effort to understand the movement of sediment and nutrients, and to detect changes in the water quality as a result of focused implementation.
What to watch out for in WLEB water quality policy:
- Great Lakes Watershed Management System—Nutrient Tracking Dashboard – Keep track of all conservation and water quality outcomes.
- New iteration of the Domestic Action Plan will be published in early 2025 with updated goals and strategies.
WLEB Community Advisory Group
The WLEB Community Advisory Group is organized by Alison Bressler, PhD, from the University of Michigan Water Center. Members are community leaders representing a network of individuals with interest in WLEB water quality. Members are directly or indirectly involved in managing phosphorus sources, are affected by excess nutrients in water, or are environmental advocates.
The Water Center hosted a great regenerative ag bus tour and field day this past August, featuring some of the great work from farmers in the WLEB. Check out some of the highlights of the regenerative agriculture field tour. Also, check out the WLEB Community Advisory Group website for information on future events and resources about nutrient reduction efforts in the WLEB.
Interested in getting involved and shaping future nutrient reduction efforts in the WLEB? The Water Center Community Advisory Group is looking for more members. If you are interested, please reach out to Alison Bressler at asbressler@umich.edu.
