Scientists predict a significant harmful algae bloom for western Lake Erie this year.
The forecast, a joint effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Heidelberg University and other partners, predicts a bloom severity of six on a 10-point scale. That would be better than last , but worse than 2016.
The bloom popped up earlier than normal this year, but Rick Stumpf, a NOAA scientist, says an early bloom is not indicative of a severe one.
鈥淲e saw a little scum, we鈥檒l see a little more,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淏ut it doesn鈥檛 mean we鈥檙e going to have a worse bloom this year. It just means it started up earlier. The timing may go a little bit earlier overall.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 until September last year that algae blooms in western Lake Erie, where the warmer, shallower water helps breed algae from nearby farm runoff.Last year, Lake Erie charter boat captains estimated a 25 percent loss in business due to people cancelling trips to avoid the green scum. Stumpf says boaters can look to NOAA鈥檚 harmful algae bloom bulletins for a bloom analysis.
The blooms can be harmful if ingested by humans and pets, but Stumpf says the blooms will only impact a small part of the lake.
鈥淎 lot of the lake will be fine, most of the central basin but even in the western basin,鈥� said Stumpf. 鈥淭here will be areas that鈥檒l be good, and right now they are good.鈥�
NOAA will continue issuing twice-weekly throughout the summer.
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