Received this e-mail today from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D. OH) re-election campaign:
Lake Erie provides drinking water for three million Ohioans. It generates $1.8 billion in tourism revenue and supports more than 120,000 jobs.
Needless to say, Lake Erie isn't just a big, pretty lake here in Ohio. It's an essential part of life for millions of people. Protecting Lake Erie means protecting our families, communities, and our way of life.
But Lake Erie’s ecosystem is in jeopardy. An invasive species of Asian Carp is making its way closer and closer to the lake, and this summer forecasters are predicting a harmful algae bloom that could grow to be the third largest on record.
Now is not the time to neglect our Great Lakes’ ecosystems, but President Trump’s initial budget proposal reduced Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding by 97%.
If Asian Carp reach Lake Erie, it could have significant consequences for the ecosystem. The carp could overrun native species and hurt fishing and tourism.
The Army Corp of Engineers was supposed to conduct a review of methods to keep invasive Asian Carp out of Lake Erie, but now that report is past due. The Trump administration needs to stop delaying the release of the report.
Every day this report is delayed is time that we could be using to devise ways to keep Asian Carp from destroying Lake Erie’s ecosystem. The Great Lakes are important to Ohioans and millions of Americans in the region. The Trump administration needs to release this report and fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Join me and tell the Trump Administration not to cut off funding for the Great Lakes.
Thank you,
Sherrod