Algal blooms pop up in western Lake Erie

SANDUSKY — Harmful algal blooms have appeared in two locations in Lake Erie, including Sandusky Bay. The bloom in Sandusky Bay is the first big bloom since 2019, a scientist said. Toxins have been detected in the Sandusky Bay algal bloom. People are being advised to avoid contact with blooms that contain toxins. No toxins have been reported yet for the main algal bloom in the western basin. "The cyanobacterial bloom in western Lake Erie has an approximate area of 20 square miles, which is an increase in area since July 10," according to a web page tracking the bloom maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Satellite imagery shows patches of cyanobacteria in North Maumee Bay near Erie, Michigan, and far western Lake Erie," the update states. Scientists have forecast that the harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie will be a mild to moderate bloom, a 3 on a scale of 10. Meanwhile, Sandusky Bay has a harmful algal bloom of its own and toxins have been detected, according to the administration. Officials there are reminding the public that people should not swim in the scum, and dogs also should not be allowed to swim in the scum. George Bullerjahn, an emeritus professor of biology at Bowling Green State University, has been studying algal blooms in Sandusky Bay for years. "Sandusky Bay is having the first big cyanobacterial bloom since 2019, this time caused by Microcystis and a Aphanizomenon, not Planktothrix like the old days prior to 2020," Bullerjahn said this past week. "The bloom really took hold in the past 2 weeks, and I attribute it to the sustained warm temperatures this past month." The bloom was very green on Tuesday in the portion of Sandusky Bay near Jackson Street Pier in downtown Sandusky, the professor said. Water samples were taken there and will be checked for toxins, and that information will be shared with Sandusky officials, he said. Microcystis is the cyanobacteria that produces the main harmful algal bloom in Lake Erie. Cyanobacteria is a form of bacteria that uses photosynthesis, like algae and other plants.