Latest news with #algalblooms
CBS News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Oxygen levels in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay decline after heavy rain in May, data shows
The Chesapeake Bay saw historically low oxygen levels in June, after heavy rain in May, according to data from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to a DNR report, the low oxygen levels led to hypoxia in the bay, which happens when the water has less than 2 mg/l of oxygen. An increase in hypoxia levels can impact fish and crabs that live in the water. The hypoxia increase in the Chesapeake Bay was reported between early and late June. However, no hypoxia was recorded in May. In the past 41 years, there were only nine times when hypoxia was not seen in May, according to the DNR. Data shows hypoxia increased from below average levels in early June to above average in late June. It comes after heavy rainfall in Maryland and Pennsylvania during May and hot temperatures during June. According to the DNR, heavy rainfall can lead to lower oxygen levels as runoff pushes excess nutrients into the Chesapeake Bay. This can impact algal blooms and reduce the clarity of the water. The regional weather patterns fueled algal blooms and resulted in less oxygen consumption. Temperatures also impact hypoxia levels as warmer water holds less oxygen. Data shows hypoxia in the Bay was triple the normal average in late June, the largest volume of hypoxia seen in Maryland since the monitoring program began. The increase in hypoxia levels can impact wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay, as crabs, fish, oysters and other animals need the dissolved oxygen to live. According to the DNR, some watermen reported finding dead crabs in shallow water in early July. An analysis found that winds between July 1 and July 4 likely pushed water east, allowing low oxygen levels to come closer to the surface in some locations. The DNR is studying the level and duration of hypoxia in the Bay to determine specific impacts to wildlife. DNR officials also emphasized that reducing phosphorus pollution from industrial and wastewater runoff, farms and cities could reduce hypoxia conditions in the Bay.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Pollution in Welsh rivers is 'suffocating the sea', campaigners say
Pollution from rivers in Wales is impacting the marine environment and "suffocating our sea", campaigners have Cymru said excess nutrients from farming and sewage were leading to the growth of algal blooms, smothering the assessments of the condition of protected areas along the Welsh coast are set to be published on Wednesday by the environment watchdog Natural Resources Wales (NRW).Drafts obtained by the BBC suggest multiple failures for water quality. The Welsh government said the reports would provide "critical information" to help improve the marine environment. NRW had previously confirmed that seven out of the nine most protected rivers in Wales - known as special area of conservation or SAC rivers - were failing water quality targets due in part to high levels of and slurry spills from agricultural land, wastewater discharges and pollution from industry were all contributors to the situation has already led to limits being placed on housebuilding along SAC a manifesto of asks to politicians ahead of next year's Senedd election, WWF Cymru said a similar picture was now emerging in the fed in from rivers is damaging marine ecosystems and the ocean's ability to store carbon, "making conditions for recovery or restoration of carbon-rich habitats, such as seagrass, challenging", it charity called for a "strong recovery plan" for ocean habitats, backed by law and funding. Like with rivers, estuaries and areas of the sea around Wales are protected for their important habitats and is set to publish a series of assessments and guidance on the condition of these marine SACs and special protection areas (SPAs) on long-awaited reports will be the first of their kind since obtained by the BBC suggested several of the marine SACs in Wales were failing water quality targets for excess include the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation, one of the country's most famous and popular tourist the marine environment the nutrient of concern is generally nitrogen, predominately from agricultural run-off and pollution incidents, the reports suggest. Ric Cooper helps run The Cleddau Project in Pembrokeshire where a group of volunteers are working to restore the county's main rivers - the Western and Eastern Cleddau - back to good health."I live on the estuary and like others had become increasingly distraught with the state of the river," he said."It would often smell of sewage and sometimes slurry, and the life in the river was deteriorating before our eyes."We have green algal banks, we have what they can algal mats in the summer months which are due to excess nutrients in the water, sunlight and warm temperatures."The condition of the river and marine environment are "very linked", Mr Cooper explained, but he felt the impact on the coast and sea were "almost like a forgotten story"."There hasn't been the same pressure to improve things for the estuary as there has been for the freshwater Cleddau."He said the group, which has spent the last year coordinating a citizen science project monitoring water quality at 49 sites, involving 100 volunteers, was very much looking forward to reading NRW's reports."We want it to be highlighted that this water body is failing, it's in a bad way and then the powers that be will have to decide what can be done about it."We're hoping this catalyses more action." Shea Buckland-Jones, head of policy and advocacy at WWF Cymru, said the charity expected the reports would "show the terrible state of our waterways and the urgent action needed from Welsh government"."Sadly, the public do not need to view a report to appreciate the dire state of our waterways as it is all too apparent."This is why there is so much support from across Wales to bring Welsh rivers back to full health," he added, pointing to polling carried on the charity's suggested 87% of the Welsh public supported action from the Welsh government to reduce and where possible eliminate river pollution caused by agriculture and show 79% of those asked supported restoring carbon-rich marine habitats such as seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs."As we have set out in our new manifesto this means sustained action to restore ecosystems and prevent all sources of river pollution, focusing on the two biggest sources; agriculture and sewage," Mr Buckland-Jones said. A spokesman for NFU Cymru said the farming union recognised "the role that farmers have to play in maintaining and enhancing water quality in Wales". "Farmers take their environmental responsibilities seriously and NFU Cymru continues to work with partners to take action to reduce incidences of agricultural point source and diffuse pollution, where the evidence shows this is needed," they Water said it planned to invest £4bn - including £2.5bn on environmental projects - between now and 2030. "During the next two years we will be building on NRW's work and carrying out investigations to understand the different sources of nutrients found in sea water whether from runoff water from the land or wastewater," the company said."River pollution and marine water quality is not just an issue for water companies. We need to work together with other sectors who impact water quality to ensure improvement."The Welsh government said it was "committed to improving the health of our rivers and seas" and undertaking "a range of actions to improve water quality".This includes implementing "at pace all recommendations from the recent Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations Review," it added."We remain dedicated to developing and strengthening environmental law in Wales. The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, recently laid in the Senedd, reflects the ongoing need to deliver transformative change, including tackling drivers of biodiversity loss such as nutrient pollution."
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Lake Ōmāpere hoped to be restored to former glory
Lake Ōmāpere in March this year, when an algae bloom turned the water a lurid green. Photo: Supplied / NIWA An ambitious plan to restore the health of Northland's largest lake is set to begin within a year, funding permitting. Lake Ōmāpere was once known as the food basket of Ngāpuhi for its abundance of aquatic life, but in recent decades it has become increasingly polluted. It is also afflicted by algal blooms that turn the lake a lurid green and can be fatal to aquatic life. Various attempts have been made over the years to save the 1200-hectare lake, just north of Kaikohe, but the Lake Ōmāpere Trust believes the current plan is different. The Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Roto Ōmāpere Restoration Plan has also caught international attention, with the trust invited to make a presentation to the World Lake Conference in Brisbane next month, even before physical work gets underway. Trustee Marise Stuart said the lake was in a "hyper-eutrophic state", which meant the water was extremely high in nutrients. Those nutrients provided food for microscopic algae which grew rapidly in summer months, causing algal blooms. The blooms turned the water bright green, and - depending on the organisms involved - could be toxic, killing creatures both in the lake and downstream in the Utakura River. Lake Ōmāpere was once known as the food basket of Ngāpuhi. These days it's heavily polluted and mostly devoid of life. Photo: Supplied / Paul Champion, NIWA Stuart said the first bloom occurred in 1984. "Children swimming in the Utakura River became sick. Animals wouldn't drink the water. The shellfish turned bad. It's what you hear about any kind of algal bloom, but it's right here in our backyard, and it's an ongoing issue." Blooms had occurred regularly since then, including in 2018. Tests showed that bloom was not toxic but it still killed a large number of eels, thought to have been caused by a lack of oxygen in the water. Stuart said the lake's decline had taken place within living memory. Trustee Ani Martin, aged 93, recalled the abundance of food the lake used to provide; while her daughter Kay Martin, also a trustee, remembered diving into the lake as a child and seeing tuna (eels) weaving in and out of a thick bed of aquatic plants. Some of the older farmers living around the lake could recall putting their hands into the water and pulling out handfuls of freshwater mussels. Neither the plants nor the mussels survived in the heavily polluted lake today, which had serious knock-on effects. The plants released oxygen while the mussels were efficient filter-feeders that used to keep the water clean. "So that whole biodiversity that was once there is no longer," Stuart said. Utakura Valley landowners Neville and Linda Lewis during an algal bloom in 2018, which turned Lake Ōmāpere's outflow bright green and killed large numbers of eels. Photo: Peter de Graaf The lake's problems began with the removal of the surrounding forest in the 1800s, and had been exacerbated by at least three attempts to lower the lake level, starting with the use of dynamite at the lake's exit in 1905. According to NIWA, the lake was now just 2.6m deep at its deepest point, dropping as low as 1.5m in summer. Previous attempts to clean up Lake Ōmāpere had focused on riparian planting to prevent sediment and pollutants entering the lake. A 2012 plan chalked up some wins, but the farm plans were "not as pragmatic as they could have been" and many were not implemented. The key difference in the latest plan was its focus on sediment already in the lake, deposited there over many decades. Stuart, who has a Master of Science degree from Harvard University, said years of research had shown that unless that layer of nutrient-rich sediment was dealt with, all other interventions would be futile. Therefore the plan would involve "targeted sediment removal" from the lake bed. The dredging would be carried out in combination with building sediment traps, more riparian planting around the lake edge, and wetland restoration. NIWA had also been trialling the use of floating rafts of freshwater mussels, which could help clean up the water. Another difference with previous plans was the "really strong relationships" built up with surrounding farmers, Stuart said. "They want to see the lake improve as well. Some of them were there in the days when the water was clean, so they want it to be restored." There were no plans at this point to raise the lake level, but sediment removal would have the effect of increasing the volume of water it contained, she said. Much fundraising was required but the trust was hopeful of starting work within a year. The project was included in the government's fast-track bill, which could expedite the work - though extensive consultation would still be undertaken. The lake's relatively simple ownership could also streamline the project, Stuart said. Lake Ōmāpere was one of only two lakes in New Zealand where the lake bed and the water were fully owned by iwi. The other was Lake Horowhenua. A dead eel in Lake Ōmāpere's outflow during the 2018 algal bloom. Photo: Peter de Graaf Stuart said being selected for the 21-25 July World Lake Conference was "massive" for "a humble little lake trust". "Experts in lake restoration and water quality from all around the world will be at that conference, so it's a really great opportunity to share our story and have some discussion backwards and forwards. It's an affirmation of the hard work and the robust discussions we've had to get where we are." The Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Roto Ōmāpere Restoration Plan was supported by experts from NIWA and DOC, as well as 2022 Kiwibank New Zealand Senior of the Year Rereata Makiha and internationally acclaimed lake restoration expert Professor David Hamilton. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said he was excited about the plan's inclusion of green infrastructure, flood resilience and water resilience. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Water quality problems were starkly evident in the 2020 drought when attempts by the Far North District Council to use the lake as an emergency water source for Kaikohe failed due to concerns over algal blooms, he said. NIWA chief scientist Dr Erica Williams said the institute was supporting the trust's environmental and water quality goals, and working alongside DOC to bring back species such as the endangered aquatic plant Isoetes kirkii. Hamilton said for too long researchers' philosophy had been "we are the scientists, we know what is best for you". "This approach fails to recognise and engage with community, iwi and policy makers, particularly Indigenous knowledge holders. Hearing about the Lake Ōmāpere restoration plan will provide the global audience with an opportunity to understand a different, Global South perspective." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Americans who live near coastlines and lakefronts may face heightened ALS risk
If you live near bodies of water frequently impacted by harmful algal blooms, you may be at an increased risk of dying from ALS, new research reveals. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the debilitating neurodegenerative disease commonly known as 'Lou Gehrig's Disease,' is influenced by genetics and environmental factors. It dramatically slashes the patient's life expectancy, with people typically passing away within two to five years of diagnosis. Some 5,000 are diagnosed with ALS each year in the U.S., and there are approximately 15 new cases each day. Recently, Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane announced he was battling the disease and told Good Morning America that his body's right side had 'completely stopped working.' Now, researchers at the University of Michigan Medicine say toxins produced by algal blooms in lakes and along American coasts could influence disease progression. 'While there is still limited research into the mechanism by which cyanobacteria toxins affect neurodegenerative diseases, our findings suggest that living near or participating in activities in these water bodies may influence the progression of ALS,' Dr. Stephen Goutman, the school's Harriet Hiller research professor, director of the Pranger ALS Clinic, and associate director of the ALS Center of Excellence, said in a statement. Goutman is the senior author of the study which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Specifically, the researchers have found a toxin produced by the bloom cyanobacteria in brain and spinal fluid cerebral spinal fluid samples of people with ALS. It's known as ß-methylamino-L-alanine. Increasingly driven by human-caused climate change and nutrient pollution, the blooms are caused when cyanobacteria grows dense and out of control. Cyanobacteria produce several toxic agents that are linked neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. They surveyed participants who were seen at the University of Michigan Pranger ALS Clinic, many of whom lived within three miles of a harmful algal bloom. They measured the duration and extent of their exposure using satellite data from the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network and their residential and health histories. Ultimately, they found that living near blooms -- especially if swimming or boating -- was associated with dying of ALS nearly one year sooner. The people with the most significant exposures both lived near harmful blooms and used a private well as their water source. People in the Midwest may be particularly threatened partially due to pervasive industrial and agricultural productions in the region. Michigan's Lake Erie is frequently impacted by these blooms. 'If exposure to cyanobacteria toxins is a meaningful risk factor for ALS, the large number of inland lakes from to such bacteria in the Midwest may partly explain why the disease incidence is much higher than other parts of the country,' Dr. Stuart Batterman, first author and professor of environmental health sciences at the university's School of Public Health, said.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
As Earth's Magnetic Field Grows Stronger, Oxygen Levels Rise
When the magnetic field around the Earth grows stronger, oxygen levels rise. That is the surprising finding of a new study looking at more than half a billion years of planetary history. Researchers can track the rise and fall in oxygen levels by studying charcoal left over from ancient wildfires. The more oxygen, the larger the fires. And they can gauge changes in the geomagnetic field by studying rocks formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. Magnetic crystals found in cooling lava align with the geomagnetic field, offering some indication of its strength. The new study combined these data, revealing a powerful link between oxygen levels and the strength of the geomagnetic field. Over the last 540 million years, the strength of the magnetic field has trended up, and so has the level of oxygen, making the planet more hospitable to life. The findings were published in Science Advances. 'We don't really have a good explanation for it,' coauthor Benjamin Mills, of the University of Leeds, told Nature, though he offered a few ideas. As the tectonic plates have shifted, over hundreds of millions of years, their movements have, at times, unleashed essential nutrients, such as zinc and phosphorus, into the ocean, fueling massive algal blooms. Those blooms produced huge volumes of oxygen. It may be the case, scientists propose, that the same currents driving the movement of the tectonic plates may also be affecting the Earth's iron core, the source of its magnetic field. Can Toxic Mining Waste Help Remove CO2 from the Atmosphere?
