The central basin, which extends from Huron to Conneaut, includes Cleveland.
The bloom is expected to register a 3 on the severity index, compared with last year’s bloom that measured 6.8. The largest bloom in the past 12 years was in 2015 when it measured 10.5.
Blooms that measure 7 or more are considered “particularly severe, with extensive scum formation and coverage affecting the lake,” the release states. Smaller blooms, however, do not necessarily mean they are less toxic because toxins in larger blooms may be less concentrated.
The algal blooms are made up of cyanobacteria that can produce microcystin, a toxin that can harm humans and animals. In 2014, the harmful algal bloom in the western section of Lake Erie threatened the Toledo water supply.
The biggest contributor to the algal blooms is the amount of phosphorus that runs off farms in the Maumee River watershed and makes its way into Lake Erie.
While there was a “strong pulse” of nutrients coming off the fields in March because of heavy rain and no vegetation, there was minimal runoff after that because of very little rain in May, April and early June, said NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf, who leads the algal bloom forecasting for Lake Erie.
The algal bloom on Lake Erie should start to visibly appear in mid-to-late July. It’s duration will be determined by “the frequency of wind events in September, which cannot be predicted this far in advance,” the release states.
Ohio has been trying to reduce phosphorus runoff by encouraging farmers to improve the management of their fields and also by providing money to enhance wetlands. The state’s H2Ohio program, started by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019, compensates farmers for their actions.
But not enough is being done, according to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. and the Ohio Environmental Council. The groups issued a report earlier this year that said Ohio, Michigan and Ontario are behind reaching their goal of reducing total phosphorus inputs into Lake Erie by 40% by 2025.
While there was a “strong pulse” of nutrients coming off the fields in March because of heavy rain and no vegetation, there was minimal runoff after that because of very little rain in May, April and early June, said NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf, who leads the algal bloom forecasting for Lake Erie.
The algal bloom on Lake Erie should start to visibly appear in mid-to-late July. It’s duration will be determined by “the frequency of wind events in September, which cannot be predicted this far in advance,” the release states.
Ohio has been trying to reduce phosphorus runoff by encouraging farmers to improve the management of their fields and also by providing money to enhance wetlands. The state’s H2Ohio program, started by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019, compensates farmers for their actions.
But not enough is being done, according to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. and the Ohio Environmental Council. The groups issued a report earlier this year that said Ohio, Michigan and Ontario are behind reaching their goal of reducing total phosphorus inputs into Lake Erie by 40% by 2025.
