Toxic Algae Threatens Florida's Gulf Coast

As reported by Discovery News, After Toledo had to temporarily ban residents from using tap water last weekend because of a toxic algae bloom on Lake Erie, you probably figured that we’d filled the quota of bad algae-related news for the summer. No such luck, unfortunately. Off the Gulf Coast of Florida, the biggest red tide bloom seen in Florida in nearly a decade already has killed thousands of fish. The bloom, which contains the microorganism Karenia brevis, may pose a public health threat to Floridians if it washes ashore, which is expected to happen in the next two weeks, according to Reuters. NBC News says this is the largest such bloom seen since 2006 — approximately 50 x 80 miles.

Comments

Lake Champlain is impacted by algae as well

[Anonymous Coward]

St. Albans Bay and Missisquoi Bay on Lake Champlain are on high alert for blue green algae blooms and associated cyanobacteria.

Communities up and down Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont have been dealing with this for years.

Re:Lake Champlain is impacted by algae as well

[sumdumass]

We used to tackle blue green algae with copper sulfate in the 400 acre pond where i grew up. We just put about 2 lbs in a burlap sack, tied a rope around it and trolled it around the algae areas once or twice a week for three to four weeks in a row durring the heat of summer. It took about 2-3 hours to hit the blooms

Do they not do this any more? Or is there something different about in your area that makes it impractical or inneffective or something?

Phosphates

[Anonymous Coward]

Let's not forget phosphate mines, or leaks: e.g., Piney Point, Jeb Bush & Friends

http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2011/06/22/environment/piney_point_1966_2011_a_retrospective/#.U-gRnviGTgA

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/huge-red-tide-algae-bloom-could-move-ashore-florida-n175506

Re:Filter in / Filter Out

[rmdingler]

You can not economically filter out things dissolved in water... reverse osmosis comes to mind and I suspect there are other methods involving distillation.

It goes to scale.

The one that measures influence.