Grants Support Farmers in Protecting Lake Erie Water Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.7 million in grants to four organizations in Michigan and Ohio to support farmers in reducing nutrient runoff in the Western Lake Erie Basin—a major cause of harmful algal blooms. The funding, part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), aims to promote more efficient fertilizer use and improve water quality.

Grant Recipients and Projects:

• Ohio Department of Agriculture: $1 million to hire four conservation agronomists who will help manage nutrients on 300,000 acres in the Maumee River watershed.
  
• The Nature Conservancy: $783,616 to expand farmer-led conservation efforts and train professionals across Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
  
• Lenawee County Soil and Water Conservation District: $937,691 to hire staff, promote responsible fertilizer use, and develop phosphorus management tools.
  
• University of Michigan: $990,817 to create technical resources and web-based tools for tracking nutrient management plans through local conservation districts.

These efforts aim to reduce phosphorus runoff, protect Lake Erie’s water quality, and promote sustainable farming practices.

Read the full news release on epa.gov.