COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said this week that he plans to increase state funding in his
upcoming budget proposal to fight algae growth in Lake Erie.
The Republican governor told the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation in Columbus on Wednesday the effort is
"going to take real money" and that his administration is determining what the funding amount
will be.
DeWine previously voiced support for a measure proposed by state lawmakers to ask voters to approve
borrowing $1 billion over 10 years to help farmers reduce fertilizer runoff while providing funding for
monitoring and research. Phosphorous-based fertilizers are the primary cause of algae blooms that spread
across Lake Erie’s western basin each summer.
DeWine’s predecessor, John Kasich, signed an executive order last year to have the Maumee watershed,
which drains into the western basin, declared distressed to allow for increased state enforcement of
farmers’ fertilizer use.
Agricultural groups like the farm bureau opposed the order. Kasich later fired Ohio Department of
Agriculture Director David Daniels.
DeWine has not rescinded the order, but has placed it on hold for at least three months while his new
agricultural director considers potential solutions.
DeWine said his budget proposal will broadly target water quality in the state, including the Ohio River
watershed.
The governor’s budget is scheduled to be released March 15.