BC Water News

 

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020

Runoff prevention

Ohio directs $30M to farmers to fight algal blooms

An aerial view via drone of the sunrise over a farm in northwest Ohio. BEELINE AERIAL

Shutterstock

The Center Square

As part of his H2Ohio initiative, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state will allocate about $30 million for farmers to prevent phosphorus runoff, which has led to Lake Erie algal blooms. The funding comes out of the $85 million that lawmakers designated to H2Ohio. The money would go directly to farmers who will implement best practices outlined in the governor’s initiative. Farmers in northwest Ohio can apply for funds beginning Feb. 1.

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Iowa governor eyes tax hike to fund water projects

Associated Press

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to consider increasing the state sales taxes by 1 cent to raise money to boost funding for water quality. A 1-cent sales tax increase is expected to generate about $540 million in new revenue a year starting in 2021. Some of the funding will go into water quality and environmental programs voters passed 10 years ago in a constitutional amendment.

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Study: PFAS, microplastics can threaten food web

Great Lakes Now

A new study in Muskegon Lake, just north of Grand Rapids, Mich., has found that PFAS can stick to microplastic particles in the water. Since fish routinely ingest microplastics, this increases the likelihood that PFAS will make its way into the bodies of fish-eating creatures — including us. More PFAS sticks to microplastics in lake water than in the lab, where researchers use simulated lake water.

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