Monday, August 27, 2012

Thousands of fish dead in Cuyahoga River

Thousands of fish were found dead in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Ohio Division of Wildlife is reporting a fish kill in the Cuyahoga River.

About 2,000 dead fish, mostly minnows, suckers, and carp, were found by investigators this past weekend. The fish were in a fairly advanced state of decomposition, according to a source.

WKYC-TV - www.wkyc.com
22 Aug 2012
Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio, USA - See on Geonames map 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Algae blooms close Dunton, Holland State Park beaches

If the water's green, don't go in.That's what the Ottawa County Health Department is telling beach-goers after issuing a no-body contact advisories on Tuesday for Dunton Park and Holland State Park.

Blue-green algae is what causes the green tint seen in these locations in Lake Macatawa. The no-body contact advisory does not include Lake Michigan.

...The hot, dry weather this summer has created an environment where algae can thrive, said Randy Rapp, environmental health supervisor for Ottawa County.

"The lake is warmer, too, and the lack of rain means we don't get fresh water coming in, like we would normally," Rapp said. "Plus, the water has been clear up until now, which lets all that sunlight through."

... Rapp said it's difficult to tell how long the algae blooms will stick around. "I wish I could say it'll only be a couple days, but a lot is dependent on rainfall and temperatures," he said. "We have experienced algae in the past, but not for this length of time. It's been at Dunton Park for an especially long time, which is different than normal, because it usually lasts a few days."

Holland Sentinel.com
21 Aug 2012
M Schmidt
Location:  Lake Macatawa, Michigan, USA

>>> FULL ARTICLE 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cottagers look to clay remedy for blue-green algae

Waiting on provincial approval after 10 years of lake water looking 'like green paint'

The perennial problem of blue-green algae is popping up again in some northern Ontario lakes this summer. And many waterfront property owners have their eyes on a bay of Lake Huron where a possible solution is in the works.

Roughly 10 years of blue-green algae blooms and warnings about drinking, swimming or boating in the water have prompted cottagers on Sturgeon Bay near Pointe Au Baril to look for a fix.

... The concerned residents found Phoslock — clay infused with chemicals that would be dumped into the bay to neutralize phosphorus, one of the causes of the algae. The province has yet to okay the idea, however.

...So far, despite a hot summer, the number of blooms in Ontario is about the same as this time last year, ....

CBC News - www.cbc.ca
03 Aug 2012
Location: Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada