Conservation Assessment Tools

When algal blooms hit Lake Erie, discussions about the blooms’ causes become hot topics in the surrounding communities. But while Lake Erie algal blooms are an important concern for the region, people often don’t think about the impact that those nutrients and sediments can have on the watershed before they reach places like Sandusky Bay. Where do these problematic materials come from? Where do they enter the waterways? How do they affect plant and animal life, both in the stream and along streambanks? And what are the best ways to reduce the impacts of nutrients and sediments, both on local streams and on their eventual destination, Lake Erie?