Lake Erie Algae Bloom Reaches Mouth of Detroit River
Researchers say warm weather and wind conditions are spurring growth near shorelines
Scientists monitoring the algae bloom in western Lake Erie say scum from the toxic growth is spreading from the shores of Ohio up to the mouth of the Detroit River. The annual bloom is in large part created from fertilizer run-off at Farms along the Maumee River basin. The algae is toxic to humans, animals, and fish. It can also foul municipal water systems.
Until now the 2017 summer bloom had been primarily floating far off-shore toward the middle of Lake Erie. Rick Stumpf is an Oceanographer with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He tells WDET’s Amy Miller the unseasonably warm weather is helping feed the growth and winds are pushing the scum towards the shorelines in Ohio and Michigan
Compare these maps:
The one on the bottom is from August 28, 2017.
The one on the top is from September 25, 2017
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