Where is the algae bloom in Lake Erie?
Where is the algae bloom in Lake Erie?
Nearly a month into bloom season, a harmful algal bloom has been detected along Lake Erie’s shores by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. The bloom stretches from Toledo to Port Clinton, near the lake’s west end, according to satellite images from the agency.
What has happened with algae blooms in Lake Erie?
Cyanobacteria blooms (blue-green algae) are a frequent occurrence in the Great Lakes, particularly in Lake Erie, Green Bay, and Saginaw Bay. These blooms may cause fish kills and discolored or foul-smelling water, affecting both human and ecosystem health.
When did the algae blooms start in Lake Erie?
The green scum shown in these images is the worst algae bloom Lake Erie has experienced in decades. Such blooms were common in the lake’s shallow western basin in the 1950s and 60s. Phosphorus from farms, sewage, and industry fertilised the waters so that huge algae blooms developed year after year.
What’s wrong with Lake Erie?
Excessive algal growth in Lake Erie threatens the ecosystem and human health of a waterbody that provides drinking water for 12 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Algae can persist for weeks during summer by blooms carried by winds and currents eastward through the lake.
Is Lake Erie dying?
Today, Lake Erie is also known for its sport fishing, particularly for walleye and perch. Unfortunately, Lake Erie has not always been in great shape. By the late 1960s, people were declaring that “Lake Erie is dead.” The lake was heavily polluted with factory pollutants and sewer waste.
What is causing the harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie?
Lake Erie’s algae blooms are caused by runoff pollution. This type of pollution occurs when rainfall washes fertilizer and manure spread on large farm fields into streams that flow into Lake Erie. This fuels a bumper crop of algae each year that can make water toxic to fish, wildlife, and people.
What was the severity of the Lake Erie algal bloom?
The severity index is based on a bloom’s biomass – the amount of its harmful algae – over a sustained period. The largest blooms, 2011 and 2015, were 10 and 10.5, respectively. Last year’s bloom had a severity of 3.6 considered a mild bloom. However, the size of a bloom is not necessarily an indication of how toxic it is.
When was the Lake Erie algae compact signed?
The Compact was signed into law by President George W. Bush in September 2008. Significant annual summer toxic algae blooms return to Lake Erie, bringing with them economic and health impacts. Toxic algae affects Carroll Township water treatment plant in Ohio.
When was the last time Lake Erie bloomed?
This image shows the bloom on July 30, 2019, as observed by the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite. Green patches show where the bloom was most dense and where toxicity levels were unsafe for recreational activities.
What to do about the algae in Lake Erie?
Opportunities may include restoring natural wetlands, installing artificial wetlands, or filtering water that exits tile drains. Cover crops and buffer strips may also reduce runoff from surface soils. This is a fixable problem. If people work together to reduce phosphorus pollution, Lake Erie can and will recover.