| By Big Radio News Staff |

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduces a bill to improve how a federal clean water task force monitors and fixes algae blooms that harm streams, rivers and lakes.

Baldwin explains says the bill is important to Wisconsin, a state that leads in both water tourism…and in fertilizer runoff that contributes to algae blooms.

Certain algae choke out freshwater aquatic life and can harm people who go in the water.

Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, co-introduced the bill with Senate Republican Dan Sullivan of Alabama.

It would fund federal agencies working with local authorities over tech-based solutions to stem chemical runoff that encourages algae growth in bodies of fresh water.

The bill also would require federal water quality agencies to coordinate with local governments to more more quickly form plans to fix troublesome algae blooms.