Harmful algal bloom expands

HURON — The main harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie has expanded from the Toledo area to reach Huron in Erie County, scientists said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues updates during the summer as the bloom is growing. "The cyanobacteria bloom in western Lake Erie has an approximate area of 560 square miles, which is an increase in area since Aug. 12. The bloom has intensified and extends from offshore Stony Point, Michigan, to Huron, Ohio, with a small patch west of Lorain. Sandusky Bay has a local bloom of mixed cyanobacteria. No recent toxin data currently available," the administration stated on Wednesday. The reference to "cyanobacteria" in western Lake Erie refers to microcystis, the name of the cyanobacteria blamed for the annual harmful algal bloom. It can produce toxins that pollute the lake water and can kill aquatic life. The main harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie can be dangerous because of the toxins, and pets and people should stay out of the blue-green scum when it is visible on the lake's surface, scientists said. While Sandusky Bay does have blooms, toxins in the bay are largely absent, as the kind of cyanobacteria that produced the toxins has largely disappeared from the bay, according to George Bullerjahn, a Bowling Green State University emeritus biology professor who has studied Sandusky Bay for years. Bullerjahn recently took journalists out on the bay on a BGSU research boat and discussed his findings. On June 27, scientists who gathered at Stone Laboratory at Put-in-Bay predicted that this year's harmful algal bloom will be a moderate one, a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, with a likely range of 4.5 to 6. Last year's bloom was rated as a 5.3. While the bloom is a hazard in the area where it is found, much of Lake Erie won't be affected, said Rick Stumpf, an administration oceanographer who created the agency's harmful algal bloom bulletin for Lake Erie.