Panel rejects watershed rule changes

The Ohio Department of Agriculture's proposed rule changes for distressed watersheds were rejected by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review on Monday.

The proposed changes included lifting the ban on farmers' spreading manure on fields between Dec. 15 and March 15 except under certain circumstances. The Grand Lake Watershed is the only area in Ohio designated as distressed. The proposed changes were created as part of an effort to designate the Western Lake Erie Watershed, which covers northwest Ohio, as distressed. If approved, the new rules would have been applied statewide.

Many area officials and residents recently had traveled to Reynoldsburg to oppose the rule changes. The committee's rejecting the changes is a "victory for Grand Lake," Lake Improvement Association President Nick Rentz said.

"Today was a great day for Grand Lake," Rentz said. "JCARR voted to stop this proposed rule package and send it back to ODA. The position of the LIA has been the same throughout the process. We felt that rule changes were wholly unenforceable and that the changes would be unfavorable to both Grand Lake and producers in the watershed. It is our hope that we can work together with ODA along with other lake stakeholders and the watershed farmers to draft a proposal that includes policy that benefits all of us. Namely, an exception to the winter manure ban that would allow for the farmer to spread and incorporate manure during the ban dates in an easily enforceable manner if conditions are right. We offer our sincere thanks for all of the community support we have received through this process. LIA will continue to fight for what is best for our lake and this community as we move forward."

A Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys official considered the decision to be a small victory.

"Scientific evidence proved that frozen-ground legislation had made a small impact on reducing nutrients flowing in the lake," Guardians president Kate Anderson wrote in an email. "If all farmers would comply with this rule, the impact could be greater."

Rentz previously said the LIA wants to continue to enforce the manure ban because research conducted by Dr. Steven Jacquemin of Wright State University-Lake Campus has shown water-quality improvements as a result.

An ODA official expressed concern over the rejection.

"We're disappointed in this latest delay, but we will continue to work and do what we can to improve the health of Lake Erie," ODA Communications Director Mark Bruce said.

The ODA has the opportunity to revise and refile the revisions, JCARR Executive Director Larry Wolpert told the newspaper. Department officials have 30 days to make any needed revisions before refiling the rules with the committee.