A significant harmful algae bloom is predicted this summer in western Lake Erie.
A significant harmful algae bloom in western Lake Erie. This year鈥檚 algae bloom could be one of the biggest on record. And it means folks out on Western Lake Erie will see green scum on the water.
"These blooms always produce some toxins,鈥� says . 鈥淪o the scums will be a risk for swimmers, they will be a risk for pets. But other than that, we cannot yet predict the toxicity. We鈥檙e working very hard on that across the channel.鈥�
The 2014 algae bloom that was smaller than this year鈥檚 predicted bloom. It was its toxicity that caught the city鈥檚 water treatment plant off guard 鈥� but Stumpf says the plant will be able to handle toxic algae should it reach its water intake.
Harmful algae blooms are triggered when a lot of phosphorus is carried along streams and rivers to Lake Erie. Research has shown that most of that phosphorus comes from farms.
According to NOAA, the algae bloom will most likely appear late this month or early in August.
Dave Spangler is vice president of the . Spangler says he predicted a severe algae bloom for this season 鈥� and he鈥檚 going to pay attention to satellite images in order to decide where to take his clients. 鈥淲e鈥檒l direct ourselves where we鈥檙e going, to take our people out to try to avoid it,鈥� said Spangler.
But Spangler says if the year turns out to be as big a bloom as 2015, he鈥檒l shut down the business 鈥� even if it costs him money.
鈥淚f it get towards the 2015 area, then we鈥檙e going to have another bad year as far as financially 鈥� we鈥檙e not going to take people out,鈥� he said.
Great Lakes Today is a collaboration of WBFO Buffalo, ideastream Cleveland, and WXXI Rochester.
