They're back. Algae are growing in western Lake Erie as they do every year, posing a potential health threat to people and pets.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitors Lake Erie for harmful algal blooms. Each spring, it estimates how large and toxic they might become.
NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf tells WDET on a scale of 1 to 10 — with 10 being the worst — this year's bloom should be relatively mild.
"Right now, we're estimating between 2.5 and 4.5," he said.
WDET's Pat Batcheller joined The Metro to discuss NOAA's efforts to monitor harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, and why their estimates could change.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
May 15th, 2025, 07:52 pm
The Metro
Early signs point to mild algal bloom in Lake Erie
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Published May 15th, 2025, 07:52 pm
Description
They're back. Algae are growing in western Lake Erie as they do every year, posing a potential health threat to people and pets.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitors Lake Erie for harmful algal blooms. Each spring, it estimates how large and toxic they might become.
NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf tells WDET on a scale of 1 to 10 — with 10 being the worst — this year's bloom should be relatively mild.
"Right now, we're estimating between 2.5 and 4.5," he said.
WDET's Pat Batcheller joined The Metro to discuss NOAA's efforts to monitor harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, and why their estimates could change.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
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