Algae Blooms of Lake Erie
What is an algal bloom?
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins such as cyanotoxins in fresh or marine water, but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies (4). Non-toxic HABs can harm other marine life by blocking out sunlight or depleting the oxygen in the water (9).
HABs come in many different colors and forms ranging from neon green to blue to red.
Causes
Eutrophication: water with high concentrations of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to algal blooms. Much of this nutrient runoff is pollution from human activities such as fertilizer from farming. (4)
Climate change: climate change creates windows of time with warmer weather, which is ideal for algal blooms to grow. Climate change has also increased spring rainfall by 25% in the past 20 years. The majority of phosphorus transported from agricultural fields to waterways occur during storms. As a result, more phosphorus is being delivered to Lake Erie in storm runoff during the spring season. (8)
Resource extraction is also a source of eutrophication. (2)
It has also been theorized that the presence of invasive species such as Asiatic mussels is associated with an increase in harmful algal blooms. (2)
Effects
Cultural: Algal blooms can be extremely damaging to communities and homeowners. Lakeside communities depend on the water to draw them outdoors and bring them together. HABs prevent residents from swimming, boating, or even being near water. (9)
Economic: With the lowered levels of dissolved oxygen from algal blooms, fish tend to die off as a result which can hurt companies such as commercial fisheries. With there being a shortage of fish, demand rises, and the price of fish would rise as a consequence. As a result, local restaurants suffer. (4)
Medical: Algal blooms can produce what is called cyanotoxins that can be harmful to humans and fairly easy to contract through the means of drinking water, fish, scallops, and even breathing nearby air. Common illnesses derived from these toxins are respiratory problems, stomach flu and allergic reaction-like symptoms. (6)
Ecological: Crops irrigated with HAB-infected water may become contaminated with cyanotoxins that can make their way up the food chain. (2)
Tourism: As algal blooms create a mess of the lakes (along with other large bodies of water) and creates divots in the business associated with the power of Lake Erie, the algae also deters tourists. Even with thousands of kilometers of beaches it doesn't stop the tourism industry from losing, on estimate, $10 - $28 million over 30 years when left untouched, becoming one of the largest industries hit with the damages of the algal blooms. (1)
Systems Map
Place-Based Analysis
The algal bloom issue is not isolated to Lake Erie, the Great Lakes, or even the United States. However, this region is unique. The Great Lakes are all interconnected with each other by in-land lakes and rivers to form the largest freshwater system in the world. Because of this HABs that find good conditions in which to form in one area or region are not isolated and have the ability to spread to other lakes in a way that is difficult to control. As a result, even people outside the immediate vicinity of the region can be adversely affected. For Michiganders, Lake Erie, the focus of this project, and the Great Lakes in general are a source of great pride, so naturally we want to protect them. GVSU has a thriving environmental program with students who are passionate about the environment and the Great Lakes. This issue is particularly important to GVSU students because of the proximity of the Great Lakes to GVSU's Allendale campus. The Great Lakes are close enough to see HABs and their affects first hand.
Stakeholder map
What can we do to stop it?
Reducing phosphorous in lakes has been proven to be a mitigating factor in decreasing algal blooms. One way this can be done is to use low phosphate or phosphate free soap and detergent products. (7)
Wash your car on the lawn so that the run-off filters through the grass instead of going straight to the storm drains. (3)
Purchase local, organically grown fruits and vegetables which have not been treated with fertilizer. (8)
Maintain your septic system. (3)
Volunteer to help monitor bodies of water for HABs (4)
References
1 (KM 1)
"Algal blooms to cost Lake Erie tourism economy $110M: study." The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 24 July 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A594363164/OVIC?u=lom_gvalleysu&sid=OVIC&xid=3e73cae8.
2 (EK 1)
Brooks, Bryan W., et al. “Are Harmful Algal Blooms Becoming the Greatest Inland Water Quality Threat to Public Health and Aquatic Ecosystems?” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 35, no. 1, 2015, pp. 6–13., doi:10.1002/etc.3220.
3 (EK 3)
“Harmful Algal Blooms.” Michigan Sea Grant, www.michiganseagrant.org/topics/coastal-hazards-and-safety/harmful-algal-blooms/.
4 (AT 1)
“Harmful Algal Blooms.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 19 Dec. 2019, www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/harmful-algal-blooms.
5 (TH 1)
Hoagland, P., et al. “The Economic Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in the United States: Estimates, Assessment Issues, and Information Needs.” Estuaries, vol. 25, no. 4, 2002, pp. 819–837., doi:10.1007/bf02804908.
6 (TH 2)
Hudnell, Kenneth H. “Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms: State of the Science and Research Needs.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2008, doi:10.1007/978-0-387-75865-7.
7 (EK 2)
Schindler, David W., et al. “Reducing Phosphorus to Curb Lake Eutrophication Is a Success.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 50, no. 17, 2016, pp. 8923–8929., doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b02204.
8 (AT 2)
Smith, d, et al. “What Is Causing the Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie?” Jswconline.org, 1 Mar. 2015, www.jswconline.org/content/70/2/27A.
9 (KM 3)
Steffen, Morgan M., et al. "Status, causes and controls of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie." Journal of Great Lakes Research 40.2 (2014): 215-225.
10 (KM2)
US Department of Commerce, NOAA. “Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom: About.” Click for National Weather Service, NOAA's National Weather Service, 4 Aug. 2017, www.weather.gov/cle/HABabout.
