In 2014, a harmful algal bloom left 500,000 residents in Toledo without drinking water. Ohio Sea Grant was one of the first to respond, performing testing for water treatment plants and supporting city officials managing the problem. Today, Ohio Sea Grant researchers are developing new ways to keep algal toxins out of drinking water, from early warning systems when blooms approach water intakes to new treatment methods that save cities money.

The presence of cyanotoxins in water is an indicator for a potential harmful algal bloom. In 2016, Ohio Sea Grant researchers successfully developed a low cost sensor that can be used by water treatment utilities to promote better water quality and provide early warning capabilities to areas prone to the effects of harmful algal blooms.

With almost 700 captains, Ohio has the largest charter fishing fleet on the Great Lakes. In 2010, charter captains earned an estimated $9.7 million in revenue and attracted thousands of customers to local harbor communities. Recently, the number of charter captains has decreased due to rising fuel costs, declining sport fishing participation, and environmental issues including harmful algal blooms and shrinking sport fish populations.

Ohio Sea Grant organizes the annual Ohio Charter Captains Conference, which is designed to support regional economies via the charter industry while enhancing stewardship of the lake. Topics include marketing, business tips, marine electronics, marine laws and regulations. The Ohio Charter Captains Conference attracted 175 attendees in 2016. Surveys show 90 percent of captains improved their operation, 77 percent modified a practice, and 40 percent increased profitability based on information learned at the conference.

Marinas, like many industries, generate pollution. Because of their nearshore location, marinas serve as a “last chance” to address nonpoint pollution before it enters Lake Erie. Ohio Sea Grant's Clean Marinas Program encourages marinas to voluntarily adopt Environmental Protection Agency-approved pollution control practices that help minimize potential for water pollution.

In 2017, the program offered six educational workshops to 62 individuals, organizations and marinas. The program also provided 20 ongoing site reviews to evaluate marinas’ implementation of best management practices to lessen their impacts on Lake Erie. Through a voluntary certification process, seven marinas were certified in 2017, implementing a total of 497 best management practices in the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds. Three marinas were recertified for continuing to meet certification requirements, and four marinas pledged to become certified. The certified marinas comprise approximately 30 percent of the wet slips on Lake Erie. One of the primary benefits of the Clean Marina program is an enhanced image. Nationwide, 30 percent of Clean Marina operators attribute an increase in dock sales to their participation in the program.