Ribble Says Toxic Algae Blooms Are Possible In Green Bay

Mayors, utility managers, and the DNR Secretary convened at a summit in the city of Green Bay to discuss how to prevent toxic algae from growing in the waters of bay on Wednesday.

The summit focusing on phosphorus runoff was organized by U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, R-DePere, who said he was motivated by an outbreak of toxic blue algae last year in Lake Erie. It’s something that could happen in northeastern Wisconsin’s waterways.

“If you have an algae bloom in Lake Winnebago which is connected to the upper Fox, it drains north into Green Bay,” said Ribble.

Ribble said he’d like to avoid federal mandates to crack down on phosphorus runoff from agriculture and other sources.

“We’re going to take these steps voluntarily so there doesn’t have to be a regulation that comes in,” said Ribble.

Ribble said he would like local leaders to work with industry to cut phosphorous runoff.