News
Lake Erie online tracker targets phosphorus reduction efforts

Ann Arbor, MI – The Great Lakes Commission has launched ErieStat, a website that tracks progress toward the Canada-U.S. shared goal of reducing phosphorus in Lake Erie by 40 per cent, and reports how much of the nutrient is entering the lake from select rivers.

Phosphorus is essential for plant growth but also causes chronic problems in the lake, including harmful algal blooms that have plagued western Lake Erie for years and threaten the drinking water supply for 11 million people in Canada and the U.S., the commission said in a news release. The website launch was announced in Chicago at a meeting of leaders from the two countries that assemble twice yearly to share progress on the binational Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

“ErieStat allows users – which can range from the public to elected officials – to really understand the state of the lake and the binational work that is going into meeting phosphorus reduction goals,” said Jon W. Allan, director of Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes, and immediate past chair of the Great Lakes Commission. “ErieStat delivers the information we need about phosphorus reduction efforts in Lake Erie in one place.”

ErieStat is a collaboration with state, provincial, and both federal governments to highlight key strategies for meeting phosphorus reduction targets. The tracker’s features allow users to view seasonal and total phosphorus loads over time and at different scales. The site will be continuously updated and improved as new data and information become available. Future phases will track investments made to implement the strategies.

More information is available at eriestat.org.