A Canadian environmental advocacy organization is asking the public to take part in its eighth annual ‘We Are Lake Erie’ day on August 27 by using its social media hashtag, sharing photos and videos.

Environmental Defence is encouraging people to use #WeAreLakeErie and post their favourite images and stories of the lake.

The call-to-action is to “raise awareness and demand urgent action to protect the lake—a source of drinking water for millions of people and home to many complex ecosystems,” the organization said.

The advocacy group has been stressing the growing concerns of toxic blue-green algae blooms in the waters and the need to address the “root causes” of the blooms, including actions to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban sources.

The National Farmers Union – Ontario is also concerned about the rise of toxic algae and how existing fertilizer practices can pollute the water.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced in its 2024 Lake Erie algae bloom forecast that this season’s bloom was forecast to be moderate to larger-than-moderate, and was already measuring nearly 1,500 km2.

The same type of algae has been a concern in the waters around Hamilton, specifically near Bayfront Park and Pier 4.

Lake Erie supplies drinking water to over 11 million people on both sides of the border and is home to around 130 fish species.

The province of Ontario’s Lake Erie Action Plan currently has five categories of action — this includes reducing any phosphorus loadings, specifically from sewage treatment plants and better stormwater management. The Great Lakes Protect Act has a goal to reduce the added phosphorus to the lake by 40 per cent by 2025.

Environmental Defence works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.