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- Title
UNDERSTANDING THE FAILURE TO REDUCE PHOSPHORUS LOADING IN LAKE CHAMPLAIN: LESSONS FOR GOVERNANCE.
- Authors
Osherenko, Gail
- Abstract
Many shallow lakes and bays throughout the world experience dangerous toxic algae blooms. Extensive biological research has been devoted to understanding the problem, but little research addresses the social and political drivers impeding solutions. This case study focuses on Vermont's efforts to reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake Champlain, a large lake dividing New York and Vermont in the U.S. that stretches north into Québec, Canada. Why, after four decades and hundreds of millions of dollars spent, has success been so difficult to achieve? What needs to be done to improve water quality management and reduce or eliminate dangerous algae blooms? In 1993 Vermont and Quebec set a target for phosphorus levels in the shallow Missisquoi Bay at twenty-five micrograms per liter (ug/L) of phosphorus; however, the levels have not declined but increased slightly to fifty ug/L phosphorous, double the target levels. Further, the historic spring and summer floods of 2011 caused a spike in phosphorus concentrations in many parts of Lake Champlain to the highest levels observed since 1990. A warming climate and intense storms are projected to increase erosion making the problem of phosphorous loading more difficult to address. Five lessons emerge from a study of the literature and structured interviews with a dozen individuals involved in efforts to reduce pollution: (1) funding follows leadership, but success requires substantially more leadership and funding, (2) fragmentation of agency responsibility impedes problem solving, (3) sparring interest groups both spur and block solutions, (4) shocks and crises galvanize action but may temporarily set back progress, and (5) social and cultural attitudes matter both inside and outside bureaucracies.
- Subjects
LAKE Champlain; TOXIC algae; WATER quality management; PHOSPHORUS in water; ALGAL blooms; CLIMATE change
- Publication
Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, 2014, Vol 15, Issue 2, p323
- ISSN
1936-4253
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/vermjenvilaw.15.2.323