LESS: “The Erie Situation” Documentary

As climate, politics and agricultural interests collide, the health of Lake Erie – and that of humans and wildlife – hang in the balance.

In 2014, the citizens of Toledo had to go without running water for three days when a bloom of highly toxic algae entered the drinking water plant from Lake Erie. This should have been a wakeup call for politicians, big agriculture and citizens everywhere that freshwater resources are at risk of becoming toxic.

“The Erie Situation” explores the confluence of science, public sentiment, politics and the powerful farming lobby as Ohio wrestles with how to confront the drivers of toxic algae in one of the Great Lakes. The documentary will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 in Orchestra Hall.