Lake Erie Algal Bloom Update
By Nick Machinski
A webinar was hosted by the Ohio Sea Grant to give an update on July 9th. The purpose of the webinar was to give an update on this year’s algal bloom in Lake Erie. In attendance were congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI), congresswoman Mary Kaptur (OH) and congressman Bob Latta (OH). All of whom, expressed the importance of improving the water quality of Lake Erie and interest in expanding the funds available to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Laura Johnson of Heidelberg University, Rick Stumpf of NOAA and Chris Winslow of Ohio State University’s Stone Lab then made presentations.
The bloom is forecasted to be smaller in size than 2019. However, phosphorus loads of bioavailable phosphorus from the Maumee River were 85 tons higher than the ideal target for the river. While dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) was at an expected level, particular phosphorus was higher. And thought the bloom is expected to be smaller, it does not mean it will necessarily be less severe in toxicity.
Though, issues with keeping phosphorus out of the Maumee River (a major tributary of Lake Erie), it is still important that those of us in Michigan continue to do our part to help mitigate the problem. More work can be done in the River Raisin watershed, which a third of the county resides in terms of area. Water from the Huron eventually reaches Lake Erie as well. Half of the county sits in this watershed and there is a concern of an increase in phosphorus from Mill Creek, a tributary of the Huron.
If you have questions about the algal blooms that occur in Lake Erie or want to know what you can do to help please contact the Washtenaw County Conservation District.
The bloom is forecasted to be smaller in size than 2019. However, phosphorus loads of bioavailable phosphorus from the Maumee River were 85 tons higher than the ideal target for the river. While dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) was at an expected level, particular phosphorus was higher. And thought the bloom is expected to be smaller, it does not mean it will necessarily be less severe in toxicity.
Though, issues with keeping phosphorus out of the Maumee River (a major tributary of Lake Erie), it is still important that those of us in Michigan continue to do our part to help mitigate the problem. More work can be done in the River Raisin watershed, which a third of the county resides in terms of area. Water from the Huron eventually reaches Lake Erie as well. Half of the county sits in this watershed and there is a concern of an increase in phosphorus from Mill Creek, a tributary of the Huron.
If you have questions about the algal blooms that occur in Lake Erie or want to know what you can do to help please contact the Washtenaw County Conservation District.
