Built in the early 1800's, Grand Lake St. Marys was once the largest man made lake in the world.
The large lake covers more than 13,000 acres and thrived when canals were a primary mode of
transportation.
Over the decades, the lake has turned into a recreational center with boating, fishing, and
camping. All the while, the water quality continues to decrease.
"What no one knows is how long the algae and these toxin levels have been in the lake," said Kent Byran, Celina's Planning and Community Development Director.
Just last year ONN's Harrison Hove spoke with a prominent researcher, formerly at Wright State
University. He first wrote of the toxic bacteria in Grand Lake back in the 1980s before the new
bacteria even had a name.
Tourism around Grand Lake brings in more than $150 million a year. Last year, those numbers
were down 16 percent and the decline continues this summer.
"This is the second year running for a tourism catastrophe in my judgment," said Bob Sachs, Lake Improvement Association trustee.
Today, the recreational treasure sits amongst the most productive farm land in Ohio. In 2007,
Mercer County farms earned more than $400 million, making it the wealthiest agricultural county in
the state. Auglaize County farms brought in another $128 million.
The latest algae bloom has caught the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director's
attention.
"We are seeing microcystin levels that are off the charts compared to what anyone has seen in the past," said OEPA Director Chris Korleski.
Both farmers and tourism interests are trying to move past the blame game. The groups are uniting to find a solution to save their resource.
"It's our problem, and if we don't work together, it's not going to get fixed," said Big Bamboo's Dockside Grill owner Dick Cushman.
State agencies have advised visitors to stay off the lake since high levels of a neuro toxin, liver toxin, and microcystin were detected in June.
ONN's Harrison Hove has had conversations with a local business owner, Grand Lake officials and the Ohio EPA director. In next week's Green Ohio segment, he'll share some of the proposed solutions to rehabilitate Grand Lake St. Marys.
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