Phosphorus
Water from melting snow carrying phosphorus from northern Ohio's farms contributes to dead zones in Lake Erie where the oxygen is low. Storms flush phosphorus, a common farm nutrient, into drainpipes, creeks, then rivers and finally into Lake Erie.
Once there, phosphorus causes extreme plant growth and algae, which suck oxygen from the water when they decompose. Dead zones, create an area devoid of fish, worms and clams on the bottom of the lake, hurting commercial and recreational fishing. Researchers estimate that two-thirds or more of the phosphorus entering Lake Erie comes from runoff during storms.
While summer storms also wash fertilizer into the lake, big winter snowmelts can be worse. 4 of the 10 snowiest winters to hit the region have occurred in the last six years. More effort needs to be used toward trying to keep the soil and the nutrients on land before it can reach the lake,
May 25, 2006 6:28 AM | Category: Chemicals