St. Marys, Ohio (AP): State officials say the public and private sector have made a difference in helping improve the water quality at Ohio’s largest inland lake.

Cleaning up Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio has been a priority for the state since 2010.

That’s when a toxic algae bloom forced officials to urge visitors not to touch the water or eat fish caught there.

State officials said this past week that collaboration between state and local officials along with farmers and other businesses has helped cut down the amount of algae in the lake.

The Lima News reports that the state wants to remove the “Watershed in Distress” designation from Grand Lake.