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Lake Erie Toxic Algae Bloom Info - June 2015

http://www.toledowaterwaysinitiative.com/tech-data/

http://jothut.com/cgi-bin/junco.pl/blogpost/43184/21Aug2014/Lake-Eries-health-with-algae

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Excerpting and summarizing the Jun 18, 2015 Toledo Blade story

NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Planktothrix began growing in Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay a few weeks ago, which is typical. The bay's shallow, warm water grows planktothrix from May through October.

Planktothrix is a bacterial cousin to microcystis. Microcystis became western Lake Erie’s dominant form of blue-green algae in 1995, and it has held that distinction almost annually since.

Both microcystis and planktothrix are toxin-producing forms of cyanobacteria, meaning they are genetically bacteria but commonly called blue-green algae because of their appearance and because of how they mimic algae.

Planktothrix and microcystis can produce microcystin, which is the toxic blue-green algae.

Attempting to flow-chart this:

• Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can produce
  • Microcystis and Planktothrix, which can produce
    • Microcystin (toxic).

Once a week, about a dozen charter boat captains scoop samples of Lake Erie water for analysis at OSU’s Stone Laboratory.

On Mon, Jun 15, 2015, a Lake Erie charter boat operator spotted a small area of algae, about 3.5 miles northeast of the Toledo water intake. A sample of that water contained a low concentration of microcystis, which comprised about 5 to 10 percent of all algae found in that sample.

The concentration of this week's microcystis was so low that scientists don’t even know if it’s producing the toxin microcystin yet. No amount of microcystis/microcystin was found at Toledo’s water intake or the city’s Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.

Most of the June 15 sample contained diatoms, which are good forms of algae because they are part of the food chain that support fish. Later this summer, when microcystis peaks, samples will contain nearly 100 percent cyanobacteria.

Because of this week's microcystis sighting, NOAA will start its weekly sampling earlier than planned. NOAA had planned on taking water samples twice in June, and then start its weekly regimen on July 6.

Microcystis usually doesn’t develop in western Lake Erie until August. Over the past 20 years, microcystis has been spotted several times in July and at least once in June. It often starts out in the Toledo area, where the water is shallow and warm, and then it moves east to the Lake Erie islands.

Scientists hesitated to call the June 15 sighting an actual bloom because algae blooms are thick, and the blooms can spread for miles. One NOAA researcher called Monday's sighting a probable “scum patch.” The algae patch was too small to be captured by satellite images. This week's winds have dispersed the patch.

Excerpting and summarizing from a Jun 16, 2015 WSPD story

Less severe algal blooms are expected this summer in Maumee Bay and western Lake Erie. NOAA said a dry early spring caused less phosphorous to run off into the water, which should prevent massive blooms of toxic blue-green algae. Researchers say the size and potency of algal blooms will depend on future rainfall.

That story and analysis seemed a little odd and premature.

The meteorological seasons start on the first day of the month. Summer began on June 1. Spring began on March 1.

By early spring, I assume that NOAA is referring to March and April.

I have not analyzed the data, but I think that it's safe to conclude that since mid-May, southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio have received above normal rainfall.

Our temps, however, have not been unusually warm in May and June. I don't know how important air temp is to the formation of toxic algae blooms. Our summer of 2014 was possibly the coolest summer since 1992.

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