Ohio cities sue to protect vegetation around reservoirs

COLUMBUS (AP) — Five Ohio cities have sued the state to stop a law allowing residents near city-owned reservoirs to remove surrounding trees and other vegetation that protects drinking water from pollutants that can cause algae problems.

The lawsuit against the state was filed Wednesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court by Columbus, Westerville, Barberton, Lima and Akron. It seeks to remove part of the state budget that would allow adjacent homeowners to cut down trees or other vegetation serving as reservoir buffers.

The lawsuit says the strips of vegetation around the reservoirs are intended to slow storm-water runoff and filter out harmful pollutants. Pollutants can lead to algae and nitrate problems, and toxic algae fueled by pollutants have plagued Ohio lakes and cause health problems.