Lake Erie is a vital natural resource for Michigan. Since 2018, the state has made significant progress reducing point source phosphorus, achieving its interim 20 percent nutrient reduction goal by 2020. However, substantial challenges remain in addressing nonpoint source (NPS) phosphorus from the Western Lake Erie Basin’s rural landscape.

The state’s Domestic Action Plan (DAP) was recently updated to review progress since 2018 and outline actions for the 2024–2028 cycle. Throughout this process, the University of Michigan Water Center supported the DAP Team—a collaboration among the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Natural Resources (DNR), and Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Given the complexity of phosphorus sources, stakeholder input was essential to guide planning and implementation. The Water Center’s role was to establish a robust, transparent stakeholder advisory process to support the DAP updates.

Central to these efforts was the multi-sector Western Lake Erie Basin community advisory group, representing rural communities, agricultural services, environmental organizations, equity advocates, water utilities, municipal governments, and lake and coastal businesses. The Water Center convened and facilitated this group, enabling it to provide meaningful input and feedback to the state on behalf of its diverse networks. The Water Center also convened annual science advisory panels to assess and advise on adaptive management components of the DAP. Together, the advisory group and science panels combined community perspectives with rigorous scientific analysis, guiding state planning and advancing effective phosphorus reduction strategies across the basin.