4-3-07 Maumee Bay

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4-3-07 Maumee Bay
Western Lake Erie has a new form of toxic,
blue-green algae and this time, its a hardy
one that hugs the shoreline.Called lyngbya
wollei, its stringy stuff that balls up in the
shape of marbles as it rises to the surface and
forms thick mats along the shore. And unlike many
other forms of algae, it doesnt necessarily fade
away as the water cools.
Its very resistant to freezing and cold
weather. Its tough stuff. Once its established,
its hard to get rid of it, said Tom Bridgeman,
a Lake Erie researcher for the University of
Toledo who said the algae has the texture of
coarse hair.Its a new nuisance algae in
western Lake Erie, he said. It might
potentially impact swimming areas and shoreline
use.Picture and article from Toledo Balde
4-24-07
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4-3-07 Maumee Bay
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To get to open water, have to walk over dried and
blooming algal mats and then wade through algae
in the water in flat settings a 10 to 30 yard
trek or more
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Blue-Green Algae Lyngbya Wollei Maumee
Bay First appearance, Fall 2006
Is on Northern shore of Maumee Bay in Luna
Pier And has moved nine miles down the southern
shoreline. Is massive in Maumee Bay described
as the size of a house
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Unaffected areas of the Bay with blue water
crossed by a band of brown smoke
Starts out looking like brown smoke in the water
Mid Bay near the Toledo Lighthouse (4.5 miles
out)
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Near-shore conditions just west of Maumee Bay
State Park and the beaches first appearance,
Fall 2006