Editor, Times-Union: Thank you for your feature articles about algae bloom and the health of our lakes. Clean water is the concern of everyone who uses the lakes. We are blessed with an abundance, in Kosciusko County. Let’s all do our part to keep them clean. Grand Lake St. Marys was included in the article. The main problem of phosphorous and other nutrients came from 15 or more animal factory farms in the lake’s watershed. Factory farms generate thousands of tons of animal waste each year. It is sprayed on the cropland and runs into ditches and streams that feed into lakes and rivers. This happened to Grand Lake St. Marys and can happen to Kosciusko County lakes if we allow CAFOS to be a part of our farm structure. Algae blooms strangulate fish, smother the water, foul the air with rancid odors and emit toxins that can cause permanent health problems in people. Each one of us should get a copy of our watershed and find out what impact a CAFO would have in our own area. Please educate yourself about the adverse effects of large factory farms. Contact dbruggen@idem.in.gov and let him know we do not want CAFOS in Kosciusko County. Marjorie Vance Claypool, via e-mail
