Research teams from the University of Toledo (UToledo) were recently visited by members of the International Join Commission’s (IJC) Great Lakes Water Quality Board. This U.S. and Canadian coalition learned about UToledo’s completed and ongoing work into protecting the water resources of the Great Lakes region, like addressing harmful algal blooms, reducing road salt pollution, and other drinking water challenges affecting the region.

This group of 22 board members visited UToledo’s freshwater research and education facility in western Lake Erie. The visit highlighted the interdisciplinary work that has been done since Lake Erie’s 2014 harmful algal bloom contaminant and a subsequent “Do Not Drink” advisory lasting several days. IJC’s U.S. board co-chair Molly Flanagan gave praise to the contributions that UToledo’s experts were providing to the region.

“Solutions-focused, interdisciplinary science from institutions like UToledo’s Lake Erie Center is essential to inform our board’s advice to the IJC and governments to help advance Great Lakes protection,” said Flanagan.

IJC’s board members also learned about UToledo’s focus into addressing road salt contamination. Road salt, UToledo reports, has emerged as a “significant and often underrecognized stressor” on water quality and freshwater resources.