4-3-07 Maumee Bay

1. 4-3-07 Maumee Bay Western Lake Erie has a new form of toxic, blue-green algae — and this time, it’s a hardy one that hugs the shoreline.Called lyngbya wollei, it’s 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 doesn’t necessarily fade away as the water cools. “It’s very resistant to freezing and cold weather. It’s tough stuff. Once it’s established, it’s 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.“It’s 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

2. 4-3-07 Maumee Bay

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. Near-shore conditions just west of Maumee Bay State Park and the beaches – first appearance, Fall 2006