Mild Temps Could Bring Earlier Lake Erie Algae
PORT CLINTON, Ohio (AP) - A researcher says the mild winter and spring temperatures could mean toxic blue-green algae will make its appearance in western Lake Erie earlier than usual.
WTOL-TV in Toledo reports that Dr. David Baker at the National Center for Water Quality Research says the algae bloom in warm water and will show up sooner if the water heats up more quickly. He says another critical factor will be rainfall and the amount of fertilizer that runs into the lake from nearby farms that runs into the lake.
The massive, stinking algae blooms were the worst in memory on Lake Erie last summer, and fertilizer and manure are thought to feed them.
At their worst, they've forced beach closures and driven away boaters and anglers.
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