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Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) today reintroduced the Protecting Our Great Lakes Act, legislation to help mitigate harmful algal blooms by prohibiting the discharge of dredged material into the waters of the Great Lakes.

“The Protecting Our Great Lakes Act is one step we can take to mitigate harmful algal blooms in our Great Lakes,” said Latta. “The lakes’ health is vital to our region, as millions of people rely on them for drinking water. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to get this legislation passed, so we may protect these national treasures for current and future generations.”

During the dredging process, material is discharged back into the lake, re-suspending buried harmful material as well as disturbing existing bottom sediments and the resting stages of harmful algal bloom species. The Protecting Our Great Lakes Act prohibits the discharge of dredged material into the waters of the Great Lakes.

This legislation is another piece of Congressman Latta’s bipartisan efforts to mitigate algal blooms and improve water quality in Lake Erie and the Great Lakes.  In February, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Congressman Latta’s legislation, H.R. 212, the Drinking Water Protection Act, which requires the U.S. EPA to develop and submit a strategic plan to Congress for assessing and managing the risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water.   He is also the author of H.R. 349, the Great Lakes & Fresh Water Algal Blooms Information Act, to examine the causes of and current mitigation efforts in regards to algal blooms in the Great Lakes and H.R. 1705, the Clean Water Affordability Act, to assist municipalities in more affordably managing their wastewater infrastructure projects.