Major Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie Are Almost Certain for 2018
Algal blooms and high flow rates in a drainage ditch in former Great Black Swamp farmland in Defiance County. (photo by B.Jiang)

Major Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie Are Almost Certain for 2018

Bill Mitsch Bill Mitsch

Bill Mitsch

Eminent Scholar and Director, Everglades Wetland Research Park, FGCU

发布日期: 2018年6月8日
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Defiance, Ohio—Our observations of excessive algal blooms in the ditches draining farmland in the former Black Swamp in early June, shown in the picture here, coupled with high rainfall records in May and early June and our measurements of excessively high phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations in these ditches, bring us to the conclusion that this late spring flush of fertilizers directly to the Maumee River and then on to the western basin of Lake Erie is creating a perfect storm for extremely hazardous and unsightly algal blooms in downstream Lake Erie within the next 3 to 4 months. Previous predictions by others that have already suggested major algal blooms based on early spring flooding are not only correct but we now predict that the algal blooms will be even worse in Lake Erie in 2018 than predicted earlier. There is hope on the horizon as early results from our experimental wetlands nearby are showing a 50% decrease in total phosphorus as a slip stream of water from these ditches passes through our wetlands.

Richard Park

Retired and coping with Parkinson's

6 年

I agree with Kit: the algae have both nutrients and contaminants in their biomass—not suitable for recycling.

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Larry Lodwick

Senior Ecologist/Peer Reviewer/Biological Photographer/Author

6 年

Just an idea to throw out. Why not harvest the algae, compost it, and sell it back to the farmers for a price cheaper than chemical fertilizers. The lake wins by removing some of the algae; by not having the decomposing algae release the phosphates and some nitrates back into the water as it decomposes; and it would remove the need for the ag use of additional fertilizers. Ag wins by getting a cheaper fertilizer, and by having less regulations (TMDLs) placed on their operations. It would be best to find an economical solution to this problem. I know there would be problems with this idea, so let's hear solutions to any problems that are brought up.

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Jim Lang

Water Quality Consultant, Government Performance Analyst

6 年

The solution is to reduce ag nutrient runoff in the Maumee watershed. EPA has been sitting on its hands. The western basin of Lake Erie is impaired. Establish TMDL for phosphorus, etc. !

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Joseph Barrett

Great Lakes Researcher

6 年

and they will continue to happen with greater frequency and larger areas until the normal natural conveyor is restored. the only way to achieve that is by outlawing the use of the N.Y.P.A. ice boom. Google Joe Barrett ice boom" for the truth.?

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