Researchers in the Midwest are predicting that the mild winter could force more lakes around the region to be in need of blue green algae removal.

The Western Basin of Lake Erie could see more blue green algae blooms in part due to the lower temperatures experienced in the area this winter, according to WTOL.

Dr. David Baker, Heidelberg University's Director Emeritus of the National Center for Water Quality Research, said that the earlier spring means earlier appearances of the algae, which reportedly reached record levels last year.

"The blue-green algae are warm water algae, and so the sooner the lake warms up... The more likely we are to have blue-green blooms develop," Baker told the news source.

In addition to the warmer temperatures, the wet weather in the autumn forced farmers to hold off on fertilizing until the spring. Baker said that heavy rain this spring could force the fertilizer's phosphorous into water sources, which can contribute to blue green algae blooms.

Doug Kane, assistant professor of math and science at Defiance College, told the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum that this year's blue green algae blooms could be even worse than the record-setting ones from last year.

Posted on April 3rd, 2012 under Lake and Pond Algae Control