Water Quality Resources
Dr. Thomas Bridgeman and members of his Limnology Lab continue to focus their research on environmental problems in western Lake Erie that include studying harmful algal blooms (HABs) via UT's water quality sensor and buoy, as well as hypoxic conditions in western Lake Erie.
Since 2015, UT's water quality buoy has been located at Little Cedar Point in Lake Erie's western basin. The buoy is placed in the lake for HABs season, which runs mid-May through September.
Bridgeman collaborates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bowling Green State University, Heidelberg University, Ohio State University's Stone Lab and various municipal intakes and pump stations.
Daily data results are available during summer months on the Great Lakes Observing System website.
Information about Algal Blooms
Early Warning Buoy
UToledo's harmful algal bloom water early warning buoy reports data live on the Great Lakes Observing System website (GLOS) View the live data.
Harmful Algal Forecasts
Bulletins are updated until the final forecast is issued in July. Review forecasts.
MODIS Imagery - Lake erie
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellites show views of Lake Erie View MODIS images.
Additional Links
National Weather Service, NOAA - Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom
The Toledo Blade article: Algae forming in Lake Erie despite drought by Tom Henry,
August 20, 2016.
NOAA, partners predict smaller harmful algal bloom for western Lake Erie, July 7,
2016.
NOAA predicts 2016 harmful algae bloom for portions of Lake Erie (graphics) July 5,
2016.
City of Toledo's Water Quality Dashboard
Monthly listing of Microcystin Action Level Data
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Dredging and Dredged Material Management, Published
July 31, 2015.
Dredging, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority website
Satellite images from NOAA
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) Harmful Algal Blooms and
Hypoxia website