Lake Simcoe Watch calling on province to develop plan and funds to scale back lake’s phosphorus air pollution to 44 tonnes per yr by 2030
NEWS RELEASE
LAKE SIMCOE WATCH
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Public well being officers have lately confirmed poisonous blue-green algae blooms within the waters of Lake Simcoe close to Innisfil and Georgina.
In accordance with the Simcoe Muskoka District Well being Unit, publicity to blue-green algae may cause irritation to pores and skin, eyes, nostril, throat and lungs. It could actually additionally trigger abdomen ache, complications, neurological signs (e.g., muscle weak spot, dizziness), vomiting, diarrhea and liver injury.
What causes blue inexperienced algae
Blue-green algae blooms are attributable to the mix of daylight, heat water temperatures and the presence of vitamins (e.g., phosphorus and nitrogen). As our local weather warms, Lake Simcoe will expertise increasingly blue-green algae blooms until phosphorus air pollution carried by city stormwater and farm runoff is dramatically diminished.
Lake Simcoe Safety Plan
In 2009, the federal government of Ontario launched its Lake Simcoe Safety Plan (LSPP) which referred to as for Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus air pollution to be diminished by 50 per cent to 44 tonnes per yr to forestall blue-green algae blooms and extreme weed development and to guard the lake’s chilly water fishery (e.g., lake trout, white fish).
Even if the LSPP was launched 15 years in the past, the federal government of Ontario has nonetheless not developed a plan or a funds to realize its 44-tonne goal. Because of this, Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus air pollution has gone up by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2020 relative to its 2009 stage. We’re going within the mistaken path.
What must be executed
We’re calling for the federal government of Ontario to develop a plan and a funds to scale back Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus air pollution to 44 tonnes per yr by 2030.
Our name has been endorsed by:
Seven Lake Simcoe municipalities (Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Brock, Georgina, East Gwillimbury and Bradford West Gwillimbury)
The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
The Ontario NDP
Bonnie Crombie, chief of the Ontario Liberal Celebration.
What you are able to do
Please contact Ontario’s Minister of the Surroundings, Andrea Khanjin, (MPP for Barrie-Innisfil), and ask her to develop a plan and a funds to scale back Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus air pollution to 44 tonnes per yr by 2030.
Study extra
To learn our plan to scrub up Lake Simcoe, click on right here.
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