Lake Eerie Mystery: Dead Birds, Fish, Wash Up By The Thousands Causing Massive Stink

Photo courtesy of News Gather

Lake Eerie is living up to its name. The Ontario side of the Great Lake is the source of a major mystery as thousands of dead fish and birds have been washing up on shore. The story seems eerily (no pun intended) reminiscent of the massive animal die offs of early 2011, but it's not clear if there is any connection.

Apparently, the fish and birds starting showing up on Friday and causing a massive stink as they did so.

... Dr. Colby said "there are other possible causes for the dead fish such as a fish disease called viral hemorrhagic septicemia and Type E botulism, a bacterial toxin which would kill birds that feed on dead fish. He said he's already seen a sick gull near the dead fish but that is not conclusive evidence."

News Gather - news.gather.com

06 Sep 2012

L Shaw

Location: Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada - Map It   

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Scientists tackle Lake Erie algae: Toxic bloom is one of many environmental problems facing lake

Algae like this has become more common on Lake Erie as farm,
lawn and other phosphorus runoffs end up in the lake.
(Daniel Mears / The Detroit News)

Scientists gathered this week to discuss the health of the Great Lakes said Monday that recent environmental threats plaguing Lake Erie — from low water levels to the possibility of Asian carp — are diverting attention from a larger, looming threat: toxic algae blooms.

So far this year, water levels have been well below their historical averages. Scientists recently discovered DNA evidence of Asian carp in the lake for the first time. And a significant fish kill along the shore near Cleveland in July was repeated last week on the Canadian side of the lake near Chatham.

But, as recently as last year, scientists tracked a massive toxic algae bloom that, from space, appeared to cover almost the entire western third of the lake. The dangerous blooms have become more common.

Detroit News - www.detroitnews

11 Sep 2012

J Lynch

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Toxic Erie algae bloom worst in decades

Last year was the worst season of toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie in decades and the International Joint Commission wants to know how much that hurt the economy on both sides of the border.

"It could easily be tens of millions (of dollars)," John Nevin, the public affairs adviser for the IJC's Great Lakes regional office in Windsor, said Monday.

... Research on the algal blooms is expected to be done at the end of the year and a draft report will be released in the summer of 2013. The final report with specific recommendations is expected by October 2013.

...The concern with climate change is if water temperatures in the lake get warmer and warmer it could increase the blue-green algae growth. The warmth and extra nutrients boost the growth and decay of plants and, as the algae rots, it robs the lake of oxygen which can kill fish.

Algal blooms haven't been a huge problem so far this summer in Lake Erie because it was so dry there was less run-off of fertilizer, Nevin said. There has been one algal bloom wash up in the Monroe, Mich., area last week, he said. The blooms usually appear in the late summer and fall.

The Windsor Star - www.windsorstar.com

28 Aug 2012

S Hill

Location: Lake Erie, Canada

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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 

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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

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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 

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Rare algae for Lake Superior shows up near Cornucopia

Samples of a “green scum” reported by visitors to Lake Superior beaches from Cornucopia to Sandy Bay on July 14-15 were confirmed to contain a species of blue-green algae. By July 15, the algae bloom was breaking up

Many species of blue-green algae, including those collected from Myer’s Beach, are capable of producing toxins. Toxins are not produced all of the time and there is no easy way to tell when blue-green algae are producing them and when they are not, according to water quality experts. The samples collected at Myer’s Beach July 14-15 did not contain any toxins.

...Blue-green algae blooms are extremely unusual in Lake Superior because the water is generally very low in nutrients and cold. However, the floods in June flushed nutrients and sediment from the land into the lake. Combined with the warm weather, conditions may have been just right for the algae to multiply. The species that was identified at Myers Beach has been known to “bloom” in other nutrient poor lakes under the right conditions.

Superior Telegram - www.superiortelegram.com

27 Jul 2012

Location: Cornucopia, Wisconsin, USA - View on GeoNames Map

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