Moran supports algae research resolution
Congressman Jerry Moran supported legislation that would fund "better research" into the cause and ways to combat algal bloom.
The legislation supported by Moran, H.R. 1856, which was introduced in 2003 and adopted this past week, updates research programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which helps scientists better understand the creation of algal blooms and hypoxia.
The legislation also increased the participation of those on the local level so decisions can be made by people who deal with the problems.
"This algae can cause significant damage to a community's water source, as we've seen in Marion County," Moran said. "This additional funding for research will help us to better identify the causes of this disease and better equip us to deal with its damage."
Algal blooms are dense mats of toxic algae that occur both in the ocean and in fresh water. The toxins can poison animals in the water and leave the water unusable. Hypoxia is the effect that occurs when a bloom decays, consuming all of the oxygen in the water. This creates an environment that essentially chokes all other wildlife, killing plants, fish, and other creatures in the affected area.
The resolution stated "the fresh water harmful algal bloom scientific assessment shall (a) examine the causes and ecological consequences and the economic costs of harmful algal blooms with significant effects on freshwater locations, including estimations of the frequency and occurrence of significant events; (b) establish priorities and guidelines for a competitive, peer-reviewed, merit-based interagency research program as part of the Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms project, to better understand the causes, characteristics, and impacts of harmful algal blooms in freshwater locations, and (c) identify ways to improve coordination and to prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among federal agencies and departments with respect to research on harmful algal blooms in freshwater locations."
The resolution now goes to the Senate for consideration.
