Each week, agencies work together with local university scientists to issue
the weekly Harmful Algal Bloom Report for Lake Erie. (Click here for report.)
Experimental Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Bulletin.
Current Drinking Water Advisories for Ohio Public Water Systems.
Beach Guard: Ohio Beaches and Water Access Points
What is a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)?
A harmful algal bloom (HAB) is when toxic algae species cause negative impacts to other organisms via production of natural toxins. For example, the toxicity of Microcystin produced by the cyanobacteria is called Microcystis that is currently occurring on Lake Erie, Grand Lake St. Mary’s, and waterways across Ohio, can harm water quality and human health. USEPA 2015 report summarizing world-wide data suggest that Cylindrospermopsin and Anatoxin-a can lead to serious human health problems; both are toxins released by cyanobacteria. Scientist have determined the factors that produce algal blooms.
Too Much Phosphorus + Too Much Nitrogen + Warm Waters = HABs
Where Do These Chemicals Come From?
- Farm Fertilizer Run-Off
- Livestock Manure Run-off
- Human Raw Sewage Overflows From Cities’ Aging Combined Sewer Infrastructure
- Lawn and Garden Fertilizer Run-Off
- Internal existing lake loads of phosphorus and nitrogen, that get resuspended through natural or human impacts
What is Sierra Club Ohio Doing to Help Solve?
- Sierra Club Ohio and Advocacy Partners Recommendations (link with download).
- Join Sierra Club’s Ag & Water Committees to help drive policies and actions towards solutions to toxic algae in Ohio and Lake Erie.
- Become trained in Citizen’s Water Monitoring, otherwise known as Sierra Club Water Sentinels.
- Become trained in WARN (Water Alert Reporting Network) from the Sierra Club.
- Sierra Club Current Press on Lake Erie Toxic Algae in Toledo (link).
- Advocating that Ohio EPA and US EPA establish regulatory drinking water standards for cyanotoxins in public water supplies.
Toxic Algae Resource Links:
- Grand Lake St. Marys Toxic Algae Problems (link); Alum treatments tried.
- City of Toledo Water Health Alerts issued during August 2014 (link).
- NEW 2015 City of Toledo offers Lucas Co Citizens to sign up for water alerts via emails or texts.
- Findlay Reservoir Toxic Algae Problems 2014 (link); City switches to back-up reservoir temporarily.
- International Recommendations from International Joint Commission (link with download).
- Lake Erie Binational Plan by LaMP (link with download).
- U.S. Army Corps- Dredging and Toxic Algae (link with downloads).
- Heidelberg University’s National Center for Water Quality Research – Summary of Phosphorus Research (link).
- OSU’s Fact Sheet : Avoiding Stream Pollution From Animal Manure (link).
- USEPA Clean Water Rule changes fact sheet (link).
- USEPA Fact Sheet 2015 on Cyanotoxins Health Advisory (link).
- USEPA Federal Registrar June 2015 on Cyanotoxins Health Advisory (link).
- USEPA General Information: Microbiological Contaminants (link).