Lake Erie's algae blooms threaten its survival

[Joe Shlabotnik]

'It was all right 10 to 15 years ago, but not now'

Lake Erie, once a success story about how a polluted lake can be brought back to life, is once again struggling to survive.

During the summer months, the most southern of the five Great Lakes is smothering under huge blooms of green algae, often thousands of square kilometres in size.

A new report to be released by the International Joint Commission (IJC) this Thursday recommends some immediate steps to save the lake.

The acting Canadian chair of the IJC, Gordon Walker, told the House of Commons environment committee that Lake Erie is in a crisis.

"Something has happened," he told federal MPs. "It was all right 10 to 15 years ago, but not now."

That "something," according to Walker, is phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers getting into the lake.

More at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lake-erie-s-algae-blooms-threaten-its-survival-1.2551415

[Demeter]

1. I wouldn't worry; the lake would have to thaw, first

Two more weeks of bitter single digits ahead.