Lake Erie Algae Bloom Puts Pressure on Farmers; Only $500 Fine for Million-Gallon Manure Spill

Lake Erie algae bloom crisis is putting pressure on Ohio, farm states to tackle agricultural pollution problems. Though talk of industrial pollution may summon images of belching smokestacks, the agricultural expanses producing meat, dairy, grains and vegetables are today so enormous that they can generate quantities of water pollution rivaling cities.

The fine for months of manure spilling? Less than $500. More than 1 million gallons of manure flowed from a small farm for months, say Marathon County officials, quickly filling a storage tank the size of a small basement, then trickling into a wetland and eventually entering the Little Eau Pleine River on the far western edge of the county.