EPA Targets Nitrogen, Phosphorus to Fight Algae Blooms in Lakes

The EPA is proposing updates to nearly 20-year-old recommendations for protecting lakes and reservoirs from algae blooms that shift from regional criteria to models that limit specific nutrients.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued draft recommendations Thursday for addressing excess nutrients in surface water, which can fuel the growth of harmful algae, especially during the summer months. The agency is taking public comment on the draft for 60 days.

The propsoed criteria focus on the amount of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in a body of water, because controlling both nutrients simultaneously is the most effective way to limit unwanted algae ...