Protecting Lake Erie and Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard

Lake Erie was once so polluted that people thought it was dying. Cleanup efforts at all levels of government improved its health, but in 2011 the lake suffered the largest harmful algal bloom on record.

One of the key drivers of these blooms is the excess phosphorus from increased corn production for ethanol mandated under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Corn fields in the watershed send nutrients into the lake, fuelling algae that can be toxic to humans and wildlife.

Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard to reduce corn ethanol production and supporting sustainable farming practices are essential steps toward restoring Lake Erie and protecting communities that rely on it for drinking water, recreation and tourism.