Sun Nov 08 2009
By JARED ORZOLEK
Area ponds and lakes are traditionally popular destinations for fishermen, boaters and swimmers during the summer months.
But these bodies of water are potential breeding grounds for algae -- tiny, aquatic plants potentially harmful to humans, pets and wildlife.
"Algae blooms are caused mostly by nutrients in lakes and ponds. Other factors such as water temperature, wind, and the shape and depth of the pond or lake and the characteristics of its watershed affect the development of algae blooms," said Dr. Doug Kane, assistant professor of natural science at Defiance College.
"Algae blooms may be beneficial for wildlife, as long as they are non-harmful forms that compose the bloom. Zooplankton, other invertebrates, and some fish feed on algae. People typically do not like alga blooms for aesthetic and human health reasons."
Kane said there are many different types of algae and explained that in freshwater ponds and lakes the most harmful types are known as blue-green algae.
"There are several species of these bacteria that can produce toxins that affect human health," Kane said. "Both the western basin of Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Marys are experiencing harmful algae blooms that have the potential to produce toxins and negatively affect aesthetics and recreational use of these lakes."
The harmful algae bloom Kane described in Grand Lake St. Mary's in west central Ohio is an ongoing problem.
A May outbreak of a a blue-green algae called planktothrix produced a toxin known as microcystin, which led the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to advise people to limit their contact with the water in the lake, according to Dina Pierce, OEPA spokesman.
Algae blooms like the one that has occurred in Grand Lake St. Marys can be caused by high levels of nitrates and phosphates in the water. Storm water run-off from farm fields that have been heavily fertilized can contribute to high levels of these substances, Pierce said.
Pierce explained communities that obtain drinking water from surface water such as lakes and streams may have to spend more money on treatment when algae blooms occur.
"Even then, the water can have taste and odor issues, though it is safe to drink," Pierce said. "The other issue is the effect on tourism because some algae -- such as blue-green algae -- produce harmful toxins that can cause mild to severe health issues."
Both agencies and the public can work together to help keep potentially harmful algae blooms from forming.
Kane said reducing the amount of fertilizers used in the area is one step that could be taken to help prevent or lessen algae blooms in places like Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Marys.
"There are a variety of methods that people can use to minimize the amount of algae in their ponds. The most prevalent method is by adding a dye that prevents the algae from getting the light that they require for photosynthesis. Other methods, such as adding copper sulfate, can have negative impacts on Zooplankton and possibly the fish in the pond," Kane said.
"All that being said, if a pond owner reduces the amount of algae in the pond too much, it is likely that that pond will support less Zooplankton and therefore less fish. Finally, minimizing the nutrients going into the pond by minimizing the use of fertilizers will help in the prevention of algae blooms."
The OEPA also works to improve water quality, including the control and prevention of potentially harmful algae blooms.
The agency regulates sewer overflows and industrial and construction site storm water, but cannot require people to control storm water runoff from their homes and fields, according Pierce.
"We try to educate folks about the importance of controlling storm water runoff, or reducing the use of fertilizers, and we have programs that can offer money to help folks pay for projects to control storm water from non-point sources by installing buffer strips, detention ponds, cover crops and rain gardens," Pierce said, explaining that non-point sources are wastewater discharges that do not come from a pipe.
The OEPA also regulates the sewer systems of Ohio's municipalities, mandating ongoing sewer system upgrades in Defiance and Napoleon in an effort to keep pollutants from leaking into the Maumee River.
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