(WFRV) – Wisconsin’s lakes are one step closer to stronger protections after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill led by Senator Tammy Balwin (D-WI) and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-WI).
According to a press release, The Harmful Algae Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) reauthorizes and strengthens a 1998 law aimed at tackling toxic algae outbreaks.
Sustainably Speaking: Wisconsin DNR and Algae Bloom Management
The legislation boosts monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation efforts while requiring better coordination among federal agencies, state and local governments, and tribal nations.
Harmful algal blooms, fueled by fertilizer runoff, stormwater, and warming lake temperatures, have become a growing issue in Wisconsin, even spreading as far north as Lake Superior. These outbreaks can choke oxygen from the water, damage ecosystems, and put public health at risk.
The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
