An Environment Canada nutrient expert says efforts to reduce algae blooms on Lake Erie are going to be tough, but will be possible.
Sandra George says the 40% reduction, which was recently announced by the Canadian and American governments, includes reductions of municipal discharges as well as agricultural ones.
In total amounts, the American side is being asked to make larger cuts because the population and land base are bigger.
"The other part of it has to do with the type of landscape that it is, different soils, precipitation patterns, how phosphorus is actually lost from the landscape," says George not commenting on reports that one river in Ohio is responsible for most of the peak phosphorus run-off but she says it is a very significant contributor.
George says the implementation plan will be developed over the next two years, but admits that even though it isn't in place yet, Environment Canada officials know that a reduction of that size will be challenging.