Bracing for Lake Erie algae

The amount of harmful algae forecast for Lake Erie is likely to be significant, coating parts of the western basin in toxic green slime. Even moderate blooms can threaten drinking water.

Cleaning up a toxic river

The Ashtabula River may soon be the first Ohio river to come off Ohio’s list of Great Lakes toxic hotspots.

The cost has been astronomical, but advocates say clean up of the toxins protects Lake Erie fishing and tourism.

Managing storm water

A revolution in green infrastructure – and two new funding programs – are helping urban communities in Greater Cleveland create small green space projects with a big potential impact to control storm water flooding.

Photo Friday: Battle of Lake Erie

[cincopa AgJAuR7F401b]
This week, Echo contributor Karen Schaefer reported on the re-enactment of the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. This Labor Day weekend, tourists from all over the country flocked to Put-in-Bay, Ohio for the bicentennial celebration. Schaefer captured these photos of the tall ships as they refought the historic battle. Additional links:

NPS Perry Monument
Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial

Tall ships refight Battle of Lake Erie

A toxic blue-green algae bloom drifting around the Lake Erie Islands this Labor Day weekend did nothing to deter tens of thousands of visitors to Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

They were anxious to see the fleet of tall ships re-enacting the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie.

Lake Erie algae

Persistent algae blooms are wreaking havoc on the annual $11.5 billion lake tourism industry. But state elected officials and government agencies are making headway with new tools to reduce nutrients from farms and cities that are causing the blooms.

What’s in your drinking water?

Public water supplies are safer than ever — a lot safer than most bottled water. But new concerns about emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals and fragrances could drive up future costs for water treatment.

Water for Fracking

In Ohio, there are virtually no limits on how much water drillers may use from local streams for fracking operations. That has environmental groups concerned about water quality impacts the state claims are negligible.