Examiner.com article on Lake Erie algae bloom prediction

NOAA, U-M predict even larger Lake Erie algae bloom in 2015

Last year, 400,000 residents in and around Toledo had their water supply shut down for three days during August because of a bloom of toxic blue-green algae in Lake Erie.  This year's algal bloom is predicted to be even more severe, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Michigan, and could become the second largest in recorded history by the time the bloom peaks in September.

In statements released on Thursday, July 9, researchers predicted that this year's algal bloom would very likely be more severe than last year's.  This year's bloom could range in severity from 8.1 to 9.5 on a ten-point scale with the record 2011 bloom given a rating of 10.  In contrast, the 2014 bloom had a rating of 6.5.

"Last summer's Toledo water crisis was a wake-up call to the serious nature of harmful algal blooms in America's waters," said Jeff Reutter, retired director of Ohio State University's Sea Grant program and Stone Laboratory, in a press release. "This forecast once again focuses attention on this issue, and the urgent need to take action to address the problems caused by excessive amounts of nutrients from fertilizer, manure and sewage flowing into our lakes and streams."

More at the link, including this video from WXYZ.

Scientists are predicting a large algae bloom for Lake Erie this year.

I searched the blog and was surprised that I didn't mention last year's algal bloom at all!  Here's to making up for lost time.