Ohio Senate Committee Approves Bill Aimed At Lake Erie Algae

A committee of lawmakers in the Ohio Senate has approved legislation that's designed to cut down on the amount of algae in Lake Erie. The measure passed Tuesday would stop farmers in most cases from spreading manure on frozen or wet farm fields while also move toward ending the dumping of dredged sediment in the lake. Both are thought to be sources of the phosphorus that feeds the algae in the lake. The legislation still needs to clear several more votes in the Ohio Statehouse before it would become law. Another provision in the bill would require monitoring of phosphorous levels at water plants. Ohio's governor and several leaders in the legislature say one of their top priorities this year is tackling the algae fouling the water in Lake Erie.