Toxic algae spur warning at Lake Erie beach near Toledo

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/public/2013/08/13/toxic-algae-maumee-bay.html

My July 20, 2013 microblog post

http://www.toledoblade.com/MarilouJohanek/2013/07/20/Enjoy-Ohio-s-natural-beauty-here-comes-fracking-to-ruin-it.html #media #moronism #nature. It's absurd when a nw. Ohio media outlet criticizes the enviro issues in e. Ohio when nw Ohio has a severe problem with farm fertilizer runoff into watershed

Before reaming other areas of the state, northwest Ohio residents should be concerned about their own damn backyard.

Bad farming practices - Harsh agricultural chemicals are used. Farmers trying to maximize yield and thus income leave little to no habitat along rivers and streams. This riparian corridor could filter the chemical runoff. Little to no vegegation exists along the edges of the deep ditches that border farm fields, which are used take in the runoff from farm fields.

Over the past 40 years, the population in the Toledo area has at best remained unchanged, although data shows the metro population has declined. While some communities have seen population growth, Toledo's population declined by nearly 100,000 people between 1970 and 2010.

Imbecilic political decisions by the government of the decaying urban center and Toledo's declining public school system has encouraged residents and businesses to move out of the city.

So while population has declined, the amount of developed land around Toledo has at least doubled and maybe tripled over the past 40 years. More concrete, asphalt, rooftops, lawn chemicals.

The Toledo used to be a swamp. High water table. Not much ground absorption. More runoff into streams and rivers and eventually into Lake Erie.

What might help? More native plants and other vegetation and less lawn space. More trees, shrubs, and grasses or prairie plants along farm field edges.

#media - #environment - #plants - #nature - #lakeerie - #toledo