Eutrophication, Cyanobacteria, and Cyanotoxins Newsletters

From the Mainstream Media / Dans les médias grand public United Kingdom: ‘Like the flip of a switch, it’s gone’: has the ecosystem of the UK’s largest lake collapsed? “Last summer, a vast “bloom” of blue-green algae – a thick, photosynthesising blanket that deprives the lake of oxygen, choking aquatic life – brought the lough’s accelerating biodiversity crisis into sharp focus.” Illinois, USA: Agriculture, environmental leaders urge continued collective action on nutrient pollution prevention “A variety of factors contribute to rising nutrient loads, including increased streamflow, residual nutrients from years past, a wide range of human activities, climate change’s impact on water dynamics, and some unidentified sources.” Ireland: Monitoring recommended as algae blooms expected to increase “The experts recommended that nutrient loading from agricultural and urban sources be reduced, and specifically that nitrogen to phosphorous ratios be maintained at natural level...

From the Mainstream Media / Dans les médias grand public USA: Opinion - At what level of ‘do something’ should agriculture begin to clean up nitrates? “…as much as 70% of the nitrogen applied to farmland… leaked off fields and drained toxic nitrates into the region’s waters.” Europe: European Countries Ditching Green Measures After Weeks of Farmers Protesting “For weeks, farmers have been out protesting EU climate policies meant to slash carbon and nitrogen emissions. The farmers have made headway as European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announced they are withdrawing the bill that slashes the use of chemical pesticides and nitrogen output by 2030.” Florida, USA: Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit “Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52% more phosphorus and 36% more nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untr...

From the Mainstream Media / Dans les médias grand public Australia: Final report on Lake Bullen Merri algae ultrasonic trial “An 18-month trial has not solved blue green algae issues in Lake Bullen Merri. The project tested ultrasonic equipment intended to break up algae cells.” Slovenia: LIFE Stop CyanoBloom “The objective of the LIFE Stop CyanoBloom project was to demonstrate a new system for triggering lysis (break down) of cyanobacteria, decreasing its concentration and preventing mass blooming, to improve the ecological status of water bodies.” Canada: Canadian Government Launches Canada Water Agency, Invests $650M in Freshwater Action Plan “The Government of Canada is taking unprecedented action by launching the Canada Water Agency and investing $650 million over 10 years in the Freshwater Action Plan to protect and restore water quality and ecosystem health in major watersheds across the country.” Illinois, USA : Illinois farmers struggle to balance livelihoo...