Grand Lake St. Marys, in Mercer and Auglaize counties, has an entirely new species of algae bloom that contains toxins hazardous to the nervous system and liver.
According to the Lake Improvement Association, Grand Lake is home to more than 11,000 residents and hosts more than 750,000 visitors annually, which account for an economic contribution worth more than $150 million.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has posted signs asking people to stay out of the water, and neighbors and businesses are asking what happened?
"If I was to blame anybody, it would be everyone -- for total inattention to this whole system for the last 20, 30, 40 or 50 years," said Tim Lovett, president of the Lake Improvement Association.
The toxic lake has Governor Strickland's attention. Friday afternoon, he asked the EPA to help clean up the mess.
ODNR has managed the lake for decades and they say, they are upset about the conditions of the lake, too.
"We are landowners, too," said spokesman Mike Shelton.
"If the lake is not in a good condition for visitors to come and use area businesses, it is not in a good condition for them to come and use state park campgrounds and cabins," he said.
"If I was to look at what caused the toxic algae this year, look at what the Army Corp of Engineers study shows, 85 percent is nutrient runoff," said Lovett.
Grand Lake straddles Mercer and Auglaize counties, and the 58,000-acre watershed around the lake is home to the largest number of swine farms in Ohio and the second largest of cattle and calf farms.
According to 2007 statistics from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Mercer County has 169 swine farms and 453 cattle and calf farms. Auglaize County has 86 swine farms and 252 cattle and calf farms.
"There are a large number of livestock producers in the region whose property drains into the lake," said Shelton.
According to ODNR, a monitoring gauge on a creek coming into the south side of the lake has helped pinpoint the time and amount of runoff.
"The runoff isn't happening on a daily basis, but there is more after large rain events or storm events."Shelton said.
NBC 4 asked Tim Lovett, with the Lake Improvement Association, if he thought the cattle and swine farms are a part of the problem.
"I think they are a major part of the problem," said Lovett, "Only 2 to 3 percent of the pollution in the lake is from lawn fertilizer."
If you would like more information on recommendations click on these links: http://ohiodnr.com/
http://www.lakeimprovement.com/
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