The algae bloom in Lake Erie has spread to cover much of the edge of Lake Eerie near Toledo, but toxins remain low where local communities draw drinking water supply.
Jugal K. Patel and Yuliya Parshina-Kottas provide in-depth, feature coverage of the infamous Lake Erie algae bloom, which made news in 2014, but has recently been turning Lake Erie and the Maumee River green and potentially toxic again.
The risk of algae blooms comes from the likelihood that they produce toxins like microcystis. "Dangerous levels of the toxin caused Toledo, Ohio, to shut down the drinking water supply of a half-million residents for three days in 2014," according to the article. Some 3 million residents rely on the Central Basin of Lake Eerie for drinking water, so there's a very essential risk, but tourism for recreation like fishing and beach-going are also at risk when algae blooms grow.
And the algae blooms have grown in recent decades, due to the impact of the regional agricultural industry. "According to one study by the Carnegie Institute for Science and Stanford University , most of the increase in the size of the blooms can be attributed to a rise in the amount of dissolved phosphorus flowing into the lake," write Patel and Parshina-Kottas.
The article is supplemented with lots of images and infographics to illustrate the scale of the environmental disaster persisting around Lake Erie.
FULL STORY: Miles of Algae Covering Lake Erie
Lake Erie Granted Legal Rights by Voters
Toledo, Ohio held a special election for voters to decide on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.
Voters to Decide the Legal Status of Lake Erie
Voters in Toledo, Ohio could grant personhood status to the polluted and abused Lake Erie.
Great Lakes Leaders Call for Drinking Water Protections
In light of August's drinking water catastrophe in Toledo, Ohio, Great Lakes mayors gathered this week to call for policy action to protect water resources round the Great Lakes.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden
Wildfires in Los Angeles not only pose immediate physical health risks but also lead to long-term respiratory problems and mental health struggles, underscoring the need for a coordinated public health response to mitigate their lasting effects.
Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools
Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.
What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail
The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research