WEATHERLake Erie algae blooms worry researchers
Aug 12
2010
Warnings about a potentially toxic algae boom near East Harbor State Park went largely unheeded Thursday as swimmers escaped the heat in Lake Erie.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued the notice, which is believed to be the first algae warning for swimmers posted along Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline since at least the 1970s.
But swimmers at the park on Thursday said they didn’t notice the signs, which are 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheets of paper posted at the beach entrance.
Miami University of Ohio professors Andor Kiss, zoology, and his wife, Rachael Morgan-Kiss, microbiology, said they would not have gone swimming with their 10-year-old son Thursday if they’d seen the warning signs.
Morgan-Kiss said only some forms of cyanobacteria, better known as blue-green algae, produce harmful toxins in the water.
Still, after seeing the sign, she told her son he’ll have to take a shower.
Similar algae advisories could be posted at other western Lake Erie beaches in the coming weeks, including Maumee Bay State Park and Port Clinton’s Lakeview city beach, officials said.
That would be in addition to the occasional postings the Ohio Department of Health makes for excessive beach bacteria.
“We are now looking at other sites,” said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, an ODNR spokeswoman.
ODNR staff will post advisories if needed, she said.
Port Clinton Mayor Debbie Hymore-Tester said this week the algae mass is visible from the city’s shoreline, but officials have not been asked to post warning signs yet.
“You can definitely see it out there,” she said, adding that she’s not aware of any algae-related sicknesses in Port Clinton.
The potentially unprecedented health advisory for a Lake Erie beach is perhaps a cruel irony for East Harbor, the granddaddy of Ohio’s park system and often one of the state’s cleanest in terms of bacteria. The park opened in 1947 and was, at one time, the state’s most popular beach.
East Harbor has been singled out because two Ohio EPA staffers, Linda Merchant-Masonbrink and Amy Jo Klei, were taken aback by Lake Erie’s unsightly color as they returned from a seminar at Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory near Put-in-Bay, said Dina Pierce, Ohio EPA spokesman.
Merchant-Masonbrink is coordinator of the state agency’s harmful algae bloom program. Klei is a member of its drinking and groundwater staff.
The two headed for East Harbor, the closest state-owned facility, to grab water samples, Pierce said.
Lab results of those samples may not be completed until as late as Monday. Rather than wait and risk more swimmers and sunbathers to exposure, the ODNR posted the advisory sign, Pierce said.
Scientists have said western Lake Erie’s summertime algae typically begins near Toledo and expands easterly as the summer sets in. The Toledo area is the shallowest and warmest part of the Great Lakes, with the greatest amount of algae-growing nutrients.
Officials said this summer’s outbreak is the latest sign of how Ohio’s struggles have worsened with a free-floating form of algae known as microcystis, which carries the same toxin linked to 75 deaths at a kidney dialysis center in Brazil in 1996.
An international investigation headed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that facility’s water-treatment system had failed.
While it would take a large amount to be fatal, people are advised to avoid body contact and keep their pets from lapping up algae-infested water. Exposure to low levels of microcystis and other forms of blue-green algae can cause diarrhea, cramping and nausea.
Some predict this year’s bloom will be historic by the time it peaks in early September.
“It’s a developing issue statewide, really,” Pierce said. “We fully expect this to be one of the worst years for the algae bloom out there.”
Algae warnings were issued previously at six other Ohio parks this summer, all inland bodies of water.
The driving force has been myriad complaints about the foul stench and unhealthy conditions of Grand Lake St. Mary’s in western Ohio, Pierce said. Dozens of dead fish have been found there, and officials have been investigating reports of illnesses that may be a result of algae exposure.
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10:09 AM
laticia merow says
Helpful knowledge and really well explained about topic of discussion. Great collection of contents, I will be back to read other
03:53 PM
Chele says
I live in St Marys. There are warning signs about not having any contact with the water, not even going out on the lake in a boat. The lake is totally dead. NO boating, no fishing, no swimming. It stinks so bad you don't even see people out walking, rollerblading or jogging around it much anymore. It's really depressing. There have been a lot more than dozens of dead fish as the article stated. Dead fish were floating everywhere and covering the shores and beaches.
I went to Lake Erie yesterday (Sunday). It was so refreshing to see boats out on the lake. I drove around and eventually went to East Harbor beach, I grabbed my bathing suit, towel and walked up to the place that I had planned on changing into my swimsuit and there was a sign about the algae bloom. I was soooo bummed out. Seeing how much damage it has done around here, there's no way I would have any contact with the water.
07:27 AM
Americanonly says
These algae blooms are dangeous.. It's time people take heed and READ signs... pay attention and when you see a sign no matter if it's in bold print or not... take time to read the bulliten boards before going into a swimming area. I would also suggest that the officals in charge maybe make the signs with a big red letter head with the word DANGER... it might get peoples attention... It's been in the news doesn't anyone read their paper either???? I know they have what they call "red tide" in Florida and it's very toxic and people KNOW to stay out of the water when this boom is there. We in Ohio probably need to realize with high temps, there's a chance of algae blooming so be alert.
02:50 PM
savantpm says
There is a possible link between exposure to blue green algae and contracting Lou Gehrig's disease. Check out blue green algae on Wikipedia.
11:15 AM
eriemom says
SR: Please suggest that the City of Sandusky test the water off the area that they plan to build the new splash pad. I don't see this problem going away. Our climate is changing and this will become a reoccurring danger until environmental issues get taken serious.
To the citizens in the Lake Erie drainage basin: Storm sewers need to be segregated from sewage systems. Run-off needs to be controlled. Turn in anyone that you know who is draining any gray water or sewage into water-ways. Remember that anything that you pour onto the ground or dump/flush down a drain ends up in Lake Erie. We, the people, need to solve this problem. When government works to solve ecological problems it is attacked by business interests and those whom continue to believe that government is evil/too big or will destroying our economy.
Don't believe me? Watch what happens when the fed finally grows some nards and tries to pass ecological legislation--like to fight climate change.
10:45 AM
LovingMyLife says
how about instead of white 8x11 pieces of paper use neon yellow poster boards and write with black marker? just an idea to throw out there!!
10:36 AM
Woody Hayes says
Something:
That's nothing, wait until Taxpayer gets on here and tells everyone why it's Obama fault.
09:02 AM
somethingaboutmo says
Where is Julie R.? This could have something to do with corruption in Erie County Courts, I bet.
08:17 AM
Red Baron says
More Evidence that the geneal public no longer pays attention to reading. People today look at reading as something tiresome and boring.
That is why they were in the water. Ask them, they will say..."Oh I didn't read the sign..yikes I better get out!"
07:46 AM
Exxcellent says
If anyone still subscribes to the print edition of the Register, there was a publication in there within the last week called Erie Soil & Water. It gave a very good explaination of the algae blooms. Here is the link. The article is on page 7. The blooms are nothing to be taken lightly.
http://www.erie-county-ohio.net/eswcd/pdf/summer_2010.pdf
07:18 AM
Darkhorse says
The algae is something to take seriously. It is very toxic and officials should be testing for it. St. Mary's is having a real big problem with it. You can obtain some serious health problems and in some cases pets are dying from being covered in it after swimming in it. They say it is from the high heat we are experincing and the run off of fertilizers from farm land.
04:04 AM
tortoise says
Watch this interview: Sandy Bihn Discusses Algal Blooms in Lake Erie - and contact WLEWA to request that policy makers start to take this topic seriously and begin requiring the Health Department to test for algae.
02:38 AM
Observant says
This may be the same algae as Grand Lake/St.Mary's (in Ohio). People and pets are becoming seriously ill and dying from simply touching this algae.
More info: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2010/07/30/story_grand_lake_ap_preview.html
and: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2010/08/10/story-toxic-algae.html