Climate Change Likely To Worsen Lake Erie's Toxic Algal Blooms, Action Needed: A Report

Lake Erie’s toxic algal blooms are likely to increase due to record-breaking rains caused by climate change, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) report, “Taken By Storm: How Heavy rain is Worsening Algal Blooms in Lake Erie.”

Such blooms not only threaten the lake’s $1.5 billion sport fishing industry, but are capable of sickening and killing people and their pets.

As the report explains, more rain causes greater runoff of pollutants such as fertilizer and livestock waste, which then cause an upsurge in the lake’s levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, and thus an increase in growth of harmful algal blooms.

A climate scenario model produced by scientists show that larger rain events of rainfall amounts of about 1.2 inches, could become as twice as frequent over the western Lake Erie basin: in all, days with very heavy precipitation have increased by 31 percent since 1958, according to the NWF.

The result can be seen, according to the report, in 2011’s massive harmful algal bloom, which came after one of the wettest springs on record for the state of Ohio.

“Lake Erie is experiencing a one-two punch of heavy rains and farm run-off that is influencing the magnitude of toxic algal blooms,” according to report author Melinda Koslow. “Global warming will only exacerbate this urgent problem.”

However, as the report states, there is hope yet: by preparing for heavier rain events through innovative agricultural policies and programs, combined with more participation by land managers, farmers and agricultural retailers, the amount of runoff, especially that of phosphorus, can be contained.

One group leading the charge is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which, according to the AP, is currently funding a $1 billion project designed to restore 2,500 acres into wetlands along western Lake Erie in a step toward creating a new home for wildlife and as well as cleaning water runoff from farm fields.

“You can pack a lot of biodiversity in a wetland,” Josh Knights, the executive director of The Nature Conservancy’s Ohio program, told the news outlet. “There’s a tremendous opportunity for even these small parcels to have a big impact.”