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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Dozens Pack Sat. LIA Meeting |
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Monday, 05 July 2010 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
CELINA — Area residents got their questions answered and have more
information about a polarizing topic throughout the region.
Dozens of residents armed with questions and concerns about the area economy, recreation and residents surrounding Grand Lake St. Marys packed the Celina Moose for the monthly Lake Improvement Association meeting Saturday morning. With standing room only, residents poured into the Moose to find answers and explanations about the recent algae bloom that is creating neurotoxins and liver toxins.
Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski was one administrator on hand to answer questions from residents and he also touched on a plan for the lake.
“As you notice, I’m not saying it’s a pleasure to be here, I don’t think it’s a pleasure for any one of us to be here, it’s difficult, it’s stressful and we have extremely frustrated people,” Korleski said. “The degree of degradation is not only new to this lake, it’s new to us as well.”
He addressed the issue of diversion among the community and the need for local residents to stay united for a successful movement to change the lake.
“Something that usually happens in a situation like this is when people are mad and people are frustrated and the environment is damaged, what tends to happen is it’s human nature to find someone to blame,” Korleski said. “I have been doing this business for a long time, generally it’s not productive. I also sense polarization in this community. I think we need to be very cautious about starting to throw stones. Let’s talk about where we go because the blame game at the end of the day is probably not going to be productive.”
Korleski explained two parts of the problem with Grand Lake St. Marys — an internal loading problem and an external loading problem.
“Internally, there is a lot of phosphorus already in this beautiful lake, the bulk of that phosphorus is washing from the agriculture watershed south of the lake,” Korleski said. “There is no question in my mind other sources are contributing but the bulk of the phosphorus is coming from agriculture fields and the loading is catching up with us.”
He said the internal loading problem is a particular issue that needs to be solved.
“It is a gift that keeps giving — it can keep causing algal blooms,” Korleski said. “As long as you have phosphorus that can be taken up you can have algal blooms. That bloom two weeks ago was something I have never seen — how it smelled, how it developed and even how fast it disappeared.”
Korleski said focus is being aimed at one pilot project of adding aluminum sulfate to the lake.
“What it does, it’s a chemical that makes phosphorus clump together and sink,” Korleski said. “When it takes it to the bottom of the lake, the theory is it will hold the phosphorus in place to make it unavailable to algae for a number of years.”
He said there will be a final draft of pilot projects that will be submitted by Friday to decide if it is something that would be feasible to try on Grand Lake St. Marys.
Korleski said in addition to working with the new toxins and algae, the EPA and Ohio Department of Natural Resources continue to work together to monitor the microcystin found last year in the lake.
ODNR Director Sean Logan also attended the meeting and addressed those in attendance.
“I want to hit on something head on and that is dredging,” Logan said. “The most dredging money has been and continues to be to Grand Lake St. Marys. Twenty-five percent of inland state park money has been and continues to be here at Grand Lake St. Marys. This lake has received almost $1 million a year for dredging.”
He said there are a few issues with dredging the entire lake.
“It’s going to take up far more land than you can ever imagine,” Logan said. “It would take 297 years to dredge the lake, dredging is not the solution for this lake. I am open and have begun a discussion on a lakewide alum treatment.”
Other officials who attended the meeting included State Rep. Jim Zehringer, Dr. Robert Hiskey from Wright State University-Lake Campus and a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. John Boehner.
Following each address from the officials, residents were given an opportunity to ask questions. Lake property owner Shane Varvel, of Celina, started.
“Through some of the comments made today, I would like to know which agency has the lead, so we are not hearing that we are waiting for people to get things done,” Varvel said.
Korleski said he and Logan have been and will continue to work closely to accomplish things with getting support behind the lake and getting projects underway.
“This is Sean and I’s baby,” Korleski said. “If anyone has a question, don’t hesitate to e-mail Sean or myself.”
Another resident posed a question on the progress of the AiryGators and sediment collectors and why they were not included in the discussion for future plans.
“We are still waiting for the science,” Logan said.
“The science is still out on the AiryGators, but your money was heard loud and clear and it showed the community is united behind finding a solution.”
One question posed by a resident expressed concerns regarding the air quality given the smell in St. Marys, Celina and surrounding areas.
“We are working with the department of health right now, but everyone’s gut reaction is no (that it is not harmful),” Korleski said.
“While the odors are certainly bad, the gut reaction was that it is not likely to present a health problem.”
As the meeting came to a close, residents were invited to continue asking individual questions and pick up literature on the lake as well as copies of articles to legislators to sign and send in requesting assistance.
More information on the efforts by the Lake Improvement Association to help Grand Lake St. Marys can be found at LakeImprovement.com.
The next meeting of the LIA is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 7 at the Celina Moose Lodge.
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