Eerie news this week about … Lake Erie.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that Lake Erie’s toxic algae blooms are at the worst levels in history and that fish and billions of dollars in tourism revenues are at risk. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is common in the lake but record rainfall in the past year has washed unprecedented amounts of farm fertilizer, manure and sewage into the water causing substantial growth and expansion of algae blooms. Blue-green algae excrete liver and nerve toxins that can kill pets, wipe out fish populations, and sicken humans.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that Lake Erie’s toxic algae blooms are at the worst levels in history and that fish and billions of dollars in tourism revenues are at risk. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is common in the lake but record rainfall in the past year has washed unprecedented amounts of farm fertilizer, manure and sewage into the water causing substantial growth and expansion of algae blooms. Blue-green algae excrete liver and nerve toxins that can kill pets, wipe out fish populations, and sicken humans.