Algae carpets the bottom of the run at Ginnie Springs where native plants used to grow. Rising nitrate levels from agricultural runoff are the suspected cause. Photo: Jill Heinerth
Algae has been dominating the news. Residents in Toledo, Ohio woke up to a new reality that they could not trust their drinking water. A rush on grocery stores ensued and even boiling water was deemed unsafe due to toxic bacteria growing in the algae soup that is now Lake Erie. This excellent photo essay describes how the algae is getting out of hand and how we might mitigate future impacts. In short, we have to embrace a future where ewe use less fertilizer and pesticides. Agricultural runoff is killing the lake. It is within our power to change the way we farm but it will take public will to make that happen.
