Algae--A Specific Rant

[mgmine]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame farmers for the entire problem. Yes they use fretilizer which does contribute but fertilizer isn't the only reason for the problem. As noted in the responses the problem is far reaching in lakes all over the country as well as all over the world. Phosphates were banned many years ago in laundry detergent but the problem still exists in Lake Erie. Nature plays a roll but nature never gets blamed for problems when man is an easier thing to control. Give me food and let the scientists spend there time figuring out how to grow it with less harmful products instead of spending their time and tax payer money on finding someone to blame.
What are the causes of blue-green algae blooms?
Blue-green algae can reproduce quickly in favourable conditions where there is still or slow-flowing water, abundant sunlight and sufficient levels of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. In still conditions, surface water may form a separate warm top layer ('stratification') in which blue-green algae is able to access sunlight and nutrients. If these combined factors are present for several days, algae multiply and form large 'blooms'. The process of excess nutrients causing rapid growth of aquatic plant and bacterial life in a water body is known as 'eutrophication'.

Nutrients are either naturally present in sediments or are washed into water systems. In particular, phosphorus may be stored in significant amounts in sediments and released by normal bacterial activity. External sources of nitrogen and phosphorus are agricultural fertilisers, household products, sewage effluent, and stormwater runoff, all of which can enter receiving waters either directly or during rainfall events. The availability of varying levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can affect which species of blue-green algae dominate and form blooms.

Blooms can form in response to increased temperatures and phosphorus levels even if nitrogen in water remains low, as some bluegreen algae species can obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Interesting photos Meyer. Lake Erie is having its problems too.

Yes, this problem is growing nation-wide As pond keepers we have first hand experience in dealing with excess algae and know that the only truly effectual means of controlling it is by limiting the nutrients it needs to flourish.
My rant, peeve, cause for anger is the political establishment's reaction to this problem. Any remedy that will negatively affect the bottom line of any member of the business sector, especially large corporations and business groups, is off the table and not a considered solution. Lip service and procrastination is instead offered as a substitute cure.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame farmers for the entire problem. Yes they use fretilizer which does contribute but fertilizer isn't the only reason for the problem. As noted in the responses the problem is far reaching in lakes all over the country as well as all over the world. Phosphates were banned many years ago in laundry detergent but the problem still exists in Lake Erie. Nature plays a roll but nature never gets blamed for problems when man is an easier thing to control. Give me food and let the scientists spend there time figuring out how to grow it with less harmful products instead of spending their time and tax payer money on finding someone to blame.
What are the causes of blue-green algae blooms?
Blue-green algae can reproduce quickly in favourable conditions where there is still or slow-flowing water, abundant sunlight and sufficient levels of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. In still conditions, surface water may form a separate warm top layer ('stratification') in which blue-green algae is able to access sunlight and nutrients. If these combined factors are present for several days, algae multiply and form large 'blooms'. The process of excess nutrients causing rapid growth of aquatic plant and bacterial life in a water body is known as 'eutrophication'.

Nutrients are either naturally present in sediments or are washed into water systems. In particular, phosphorus may be stored in significant amounts in sediments and released by normal bacterial activity. External sources of nitrogen and phosphorus are agricultural fertilisers, household products, sewage effluent, and stormwater runoff, all of which can enter receiving waters either directly or during rainfall events. The availability of varying levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can affect which species of blue-green algae dominate and form blooms.

Blooms can form in response to increased temperatures and phosphorus levels even if nitrogen in water remains low, as some bluegreen algae species can obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere.

In regards to the instances of this problem that have so far been mentioned..Florida, Utah and Lake Erie...Human activity is the absolute cause of the problem. Run-off from poorly managed agricultural sites, urban run-off that carries lawn fertilizer, tailings from livestock breeding sites. Nature did not suddenly decide to release high levels of Phosphorus. This is nothing more than a blatant disregard for the consequences and effects of one's actions on the environment and ultimately other individuals
The primary role of government is to provide for the safety and well-being of its citizens...not its commercial ventures.
Failure to do this is plainly nonfeasance. That is apparently what is transpiring as regards this issue and others that will not be mentioned here.

 

[peter hillman]

That pic of an algae wave 'curl' is really disgusting. Waves supposed to look like this..

 

[mgmine]

In regards to the instances of this problem that have so far been mentioned..Florida, Utah and Lake Erie...Human activity is the absolute cause of the problem. Run-off from poorly managed agricultural sites, urban run-off that carries lawn fertilizer, tailings from livestock breeding sites. Nature did not suddenly decide to release high levels of Phosphorus. This is nothing more than a blatant disregard for the consequences and effects of one's actions on the environment and ultimately other individuals
The primary role of government is to provide for the safety and well-being of its citizens...not its commercial ventures.
Failure to do this is plainly nonfeasance. That is apparently what is transpiring as regards this issue and others that will not be mentioned here.

Exactly it's not just the farmers, without farmers we all starve.. It's everyone that uses the offending materials. And the offending materials to our environment are not only the items being discussed here. Everyday people cause problems, individuality it is not a problem but collectively it is. No one is willing to live in the stone age and no one is willing to cease what they are doing that is causing a problem. That includes me and I'm fairly sure you. So let the scientists come up with a solution that lets us live our lives without a lot of sacrifice.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Have you tried barley balls?

 

[peter hillman]

As clear as Tahoe may seem, it's also in fight for it's life. The clarity had been dropping for years until about ten yrs ago the massive effort by Keep Tahoe Blue, the league to save lake Tahoe and several environmental political summits. The clarity is tested by dropping a white disc into the water and measuring how far down it goes before it can no longer be seen. Well, here's the facts....
"One reason Lake Tahoe is so clear is that 40 percent of the precipitation falling onto the Lake’s watershed falls directly upon the Lake. The remaining precipitation drains through marshes and meadows, which are a good filtering system for water. Unfortunately, many of the Lake's natural filtering systems have been disturbed by development and Tahoe's clarity is diminishing. Scientific measurements of water clarity started in 1968. At that point, one could see a white disk submerged to a depth of 100 feet. Today, clarity has dropped to around 70 feet. That means Tahoe is losing about one foot of clarity per year."
What they've done is LIMITED shoreline building and vastly improved drainage's surrounding the lake, closed off several sensitive area's to public use. I believe it is working to some extent, the lakes fricking beautiful.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I wanted to go diving there in 2011 but, I wasn't certified for high altitude diving.

 

[peter hillman]

I wanted to go diving there in 2011 but, I wasn't certified for high altitude diving.

My boss owns two businesses, one of them is.... http://www.renoscuba.com/ He's underwater several days a week.

 

[Tula]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/toxic-algae-bloom-swarms-utah-lake-sickens-100/

Article posted online today about Lake Utah and the Jordan River , toxic algae bloom

 

[peter hillman]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/toxic-algae-bloom-swarms-utah-lake-sickens-100/

Article posted online today about Lake Utah and the Jordan River , toxic algae bloom

'Utah Poison Control says it has fielded hundreds of calls related to the bloom, including some 130 involving people who have reported vomiting, diarrhea, headache and rashes."
Mommy I wanna go home!!!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Florida government speaking to the Federal government--
'We won't do what you said needed to be done but you can bail us out for not doing it.'
http://www.npr.org/2016/07/09/48536...lorida-asks-for-federal-help-with-toxic-algae

 

[mgmine]

There is a lot of shame and blame to go around. First NPR for not pointing out the fact that it will cost about 3 billion to attempt to fix the problem with no guarantee that it would. Second for Obama and the army corps of engineers for "denying the science" and refusing to fund the project even though the feds gave about 7 billion of the US tax payers money to partially fund the "Big DIG" in Boston. Third for the Sirrah club for their uninformed statement that the state could afford the project, after all it passed the referendum....hmmm the logic here? And finally the state Republican government and Rick Scott in particular for not solving the problem when it became evident that Washington wouldn't help out. How can they solve the problem when they don't have the money? SIMPLE do another referendum.

"The State of Florida needs additional funds for water and land conservation bla bla bla."
Next instead of this actual phrase taken from amendment one..., the one that passed

1. To pay the debt service on bonds issued pursuant to Article VII, Section 11(e).

Would be changed to read
1. To pay the debt service a state income tax will be implemented as well as an 8 1/2 % sales tax as well as the elimination of the homestead property tax exemption".

Now the funding is no longer a problem and the Florida state government has the money to solve the problem. I'm sure that the resolution would pass in a heart beat, the first one passed so this one most definitely will. Or go back and demand that Washington pony up it's share since Florida, even though Republican run pays income tax just like Massachusetts.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

First NPR for not pointing out the fact that it will cost about 3 billion to attempt to fix the problem with no guarantee that it would. Second for Obama and the army corps of engineers for "denying the science" and refusing to fund the project

I have been closely following this developing problem for the past 10+ years and I have no idea what you are talking about.
For a start----fixing the problem is simply enforcing the reduction of pollutant discharges from any and all sources. This is the purpose of meaningful numeric values. No different than a pond except in this case you can't do water changes or install a UV.
Secondly, what "project" has the Federal government refused to fund?
The State of Florida has the means to 'fund' what was mandated by the voters. They chose not to. They agreed to buy out the Okeechobee Agricultural zone. The agreement had been signed. They again backed out because Big Sugar changed their mind. Whatever happened to 'Imminent Domain'?
Sorry, but the entire blame for this rests solely on the backs of the Florida government for ignoring the facts and the voters.

 

[mgmine]

Form NPR
"Because of the massive algae bloom, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has asked President Obama to declare a federal emergency and make federal emergency funds available. The White House rejected the request, saying Florida has the resources to handle the problem itself. Scott is appealing the decision."

Then from the SunSuntinel

'In addition to the property cost, building a reservoir on the land could cost $2.5 billion, according to the district. That expense could sidetrack other overdue Everglades restoration projects, which district officials said should be the priority.


Water district balks at Everglades land deal
"I don't want to go spend a couple billion dollars and not solve the problem," district Board Chairman Daniel O'Keefe said. "This can't be the shiny thing that distracts us from getting the projects done."

Yet environmental advocates say the cost is worth the chance to use the land to move more water south — replenishing the parched Everglades and also boosting South Florida drinking water supplies."

It's worth the cost if it's not coming out of their pockets in the form of additional taxes that they would have to pay. So you have local politicians not willing to take a chance on spending billions for something that may or may not work. And you have Washington refusing to help with federal funds when they squander that amount in a few seconds. However... and remember that you heard it here first. Washington will step in and mandate that Florida pay for this on its own or federal funding for something like highways will be held up. Not aid for solar research or another pet project but aid for the bad bad automobiles and the roads they travel on. I go back to my original point and that is to let the scientists solve the problem. Some issues are just too big to be regulated away.