Harmful algal blooms are a major environmental problem in all 50 states. 

Red tides, blue-green algae, and cyanobacteria are examples of harmful a algal blooms that can have severe impacts on human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy. Algal blooms can be toxic. Keep people and pets away from water that is green, scummy or smells bad.  EPA

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) contains organisms that can severely lower oxygen levels in natural waters, killing marine life. Some HABs are associated with algae-produced toxins. Blooms can last from a few days to many months. After the bloom dies, the microbes which decompose the dead algae use up even more of the oxygen, which can create fish die-offs. When these zones of depleted oxygen cover a large area for an extended period of time, they are referred to as dead zones, where neither fish nor plants are able to survive.

HABs are induced by an overabundance of nutrients in the water. The two most common nutrients are fixed nitrogen (nitrates, ammonia, urea) and phosphate. These nutrients are emitted by agriculture, other industries, excessive fertilizer use in urban/suburban areas and associated urban runoff. Higher water temperature and low circulation are contributing factors. HABs can cause significant harm to animals, the environment and economies. They have been increasing in size and frequency worldwide, a fact that many experts attribute to global climate change”.  Wikipedia

Algae blooms and HABs are affecting waterways and waterbodies locally and globally. They affect fishing, swimming, tourism, real estate values and local businesses. A health risk to humans and animals. The National Algae Association receives requests from state reps, cities, counties, algae bloom task forces, lake and bay authorities and coastline homeowner’s associations looking for solutions. Decades of research, testing and monitoring (alone) have not fixed these devastating water quality issues. They worsen every year. NAA takes a holistic ‘source to bloom’ approach. 

Join nutrient stewardship agriculture, algae production and algae bloom/remediation technologies as they tackle the worsening nutrient runoff problems and worsening algae bloom and HAB problems taking place in 50 states. These problems won’t fix themselves!  Reducing nutrient runoff entering waterways will reduce the algae bloom and HAB problems on waterbodies. 

Articles:

https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/environment/600070-about-half-of-us-water-too-polluted-for-swimming/

The High Cost of Algae Blooms in U.S. Waters:  More than $1 billion in 10 years (ewg.org)                                  

 https://www.ewg.org/research/high-cost-of-algae-blooms/

Hitting US Where it Hurts – The Untold Story of Harmful Algal Blooms

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/science-data/hitting-us-where-it-hurts-untold-story-harmful-algal-blooms

Toxic Algae Blooms: What You Should Know

https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2019/05/toxic-algae-blooms-what-you-should-know

Stopping algae blooms may start on farmlands

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/algae-blooms-farmland-new-wave-1.5071577

Researchers search for clues to toxic algae blooms

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/08/17/researchers-search-for-clues-to-toxic-algae-blooms

Toxic Algae Blooms in Massachusetts – video

The Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida

https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2018/08/28/harmful-algal-blooms-florida/? a.tracking.id=19HPXGJAXX&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzrPjgNun4QIVVJ7ACh1u7wosEAAYASAAEgKLffD_BwE

As Climate Warms, Algae Blooms In Drinking Water Supplies

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/03/641606668/as-climate-warms-algae-blooms-in-drinking-water-supplies

What is a red tide?

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/redtide.html

https://news.algaeworld.org/2019/09/naa-workshop-whats-the-best-way-to-rid-america-of-toxic-algae/  states