The greenness of the Maumee River may fade over the next few weeks, but the underlying problems will remain.
Over a week ago, an algal bloom crept into the Maumee River. The Maumee River flows into Lake Erie, running through downtown Toledo on its way, and right now it is slick with green slime. Officials have assured residents that their water is still safe to drink, but residents remain skeptical because they have experienced these blooms before.
Among many other benefits, this rule protects the streams and wetlands that are natural sinks for excess nutrients.
On a local level in Toledo, American Rivers has been promoting green stormwater infrastructure solutions that reduce the flow of pollution into local streams. Green stormwater infrastructure can take many forms and has many benefits, like flood mitigation and fewer combined sewer overflows, but for the Maumee River one benefit is particularly relevant: by creating more green spaces and natural structures that organically process harmful chemicals, we can minimize the number of pollutants that reach our water system in the first place.
However, this work is not just about infrastructure.