City officials launch new campaign to keep Toledo waterways clean
TOLEDO, Ohio (WNWO) -- City officials are launching a new campaign to help keep Lake Erie and the surrounding waterways clean.
The Greater Toledo Lake Erie Clear Choices, Clean Water Campaign is aimed at residents, and the daily changes they can make to reduce their contribution to the algae blooms in Lake Erie.
"This is our river, this is our home, we have to take care of it," said LaShawna Weeks, environmental specialist for the City of Toledo.
The campaign is designed to raise awareness about how our everyday choices impact Northwest Ohio's streams and lakes particularly the algal blooms we see on Lake Erie every year.
Some of the suggestions are not using as much fertilizer on your lawn, picking up after your pets, planting native plants and volunteering.
"I pledged to clean the storm drain in front of my house during leaf season. It gets clogged and so that's my personal commitment, my connection to the river that runs downtown," said Weeks.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz says he doesn't want Toledoans to think this campaign means that residents are the main contributors.
"There's no mystery who is causing this problem, there just isn't. Somewhere between 88 and 92 percent of the algal bloom problem is caused by the agricultural community, nutrient runoff, phosphorous contributions that take place miles and miles from here," said Kapszukiewicz.
This comes after the Lake Erie Bill of Rights was passed, a lawsuit was filed against it by a local farm shortly after and Governor Mike DeWine announced a $900 million H2Ohio fund that would help clean up the waterways.
But the Toledo mayor says the state legislature isn't doing enough and he hopes this helps send a message.
"Hopefully the accountability that we are demonstrating today inspires the politicians in Columbus to demand accountability from everyone because right now that's not happening."
One of the ways you can get involved with the campaign is by taking a pledge on the campaigns website.