Algae Through The Ages
Satellite imagery from NOAA shows the bloom in Lake Erie, right near the water intake for the City of Toledo. NOAA issues a weekly Harmful Algal Bloom Bulletin that keeps officials, businesses and the public apprised of conditions in the lake, and annually forecasts the expected severity of the bloom from Stone Lab. PHOTO: NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
When toxins from a harmful algal bloom (HAB) caused the City of Toledo to issue a “Do Not Drink Advisory” to 400,000 people, Ohio Sea Grant was on the case as soon as the phone started ringing.
While Stone Lab staff carried boxes of toxin analysis supplies to the City of Toledo offices, which were on the brink of running out, Ohio Sea Grant director Dr. Jeff Reutter and research coordinator Dr. Justin Chaffin were on the phone with the U.S. and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) as well as city officials from Toledo to help inform their management of the issue.
But August 2014 was far from the first time Ohio Sea Grant worked on the front lines to restore the health of Lake Erie.