First, the runoff going into Lake Erie must be reduced. The major area of runoff comes from farms. The cause for runoff is rain and the rain washes away all pesticides, which enter into lakes and rivers: “In both cases, heavy spring rains washed away tons of fertilizer from farms. The runoff drained into rivers that fed the lake. Phosphorus in the fertilizer spurred cyanobacteria growth. Hot summers and other factors made matters worse” (Kowalski 34). As a result of pesticide entering into lakes and rivers farmers must reduce their use of pesticide. The main contaminant causing toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie is pesticide coming from farms. Lake Erie has become unhealthy as pesticide use from farms have increased due to runoff of nitrogen and
