Lake Erie’s summer algal bloom level was less serious than scientists had predicted in July. The level was 3.6 out of a possible 10, indicating a relatively mild bloom, according to an Oct. 26 report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In a July report, scientists from NOAA and Ohio Sea Grant program at The Ohio State University had predicted the bloom level would be 6 on the severity index. While this year’s level is slightly more severe than the 3.2 measured in 2016, it was much milder than the severe bloom of 2017 in which the level measured 8. Chris Winslow, director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory in Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) can address questions about the report and about the health of Lake Erie. He can be reached at 614-247-6684 or winslow.33@osu.edu. The Oct. 26 NOAA report can be found at go.osu.edu/algalbloomreport. Ohio Sea Grant issued its own report Oct. 31 on the impact of harmful algal bloom research initiatives in Ohio. That report can be found at: go.osu.edu/algalresearchimpact
