Some are calling it the summer of Algae—from Utah to Florida to Australia, the world is encountering massive amounts of the stinky, dangerous sludge.

"Nearly 240 square miles of Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida, are covered in a scum of blue-green algae that has also traveled down nearby waterways and out to the coastline," according to an article by Andrea Thompson.
The algae results from a combination of factors, and represents a significant threat to local ecosystems and the tourism industry. The blooms could also become much more common "as Earth’s rising temperature heats up lakes and oceans, providing a more favorable home for algae and other potentially toxic microorganisms in the water," writes Thompson.
The article includes a lot of detail about the environmental conditions that contribute to the proliferation of algae blooms. One such condition, the warming temperature of lakes and other bodies of freshwater, was documented in alarming detail by a NASA study from December 2015.
Ben Guarino provides additional coverage of the algae bloom problem, finding locations outside of Florida struggling to deal with similar blooms. Darren Baldwin, an environmental scientist for Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, is quoted in that article explaining that the Murray-Darling Basin has experienced five algae blooms in the last 13 years. It had been 40 years between algae blooms before this latest streak.
FULL STORY: Florida’s algae-infested lakes are a sign of things to come

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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