 HAB Tracker
from NCCOS satellite monitoring and Ohio BeachGuard
Lake Erie HAB encircles West Sister Island
July 15, 2024 330 pm EDT
Lake Erie West Basin HAB Monitoring Program satellite images supplied by National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
The latest image from NCCOS was captured Sunday July 14, however is it completely cloud obscured. The previous image upload dated Saturday July 13 is a clear picture snapped at surface wind speed 4.3 mph. The Lake Erie HAB has expanded over the 24 hours previous, the north to south shoreline dimension extends from the mouth of Maumee River at Toledo past Monroe, Michigan to Stony Point. The east to west dimension runs 8 to 9 miles wide from Monroe to enfold West Sister Island. The Ohio shoreline extend includes HAB filling Maumee Bay State Park wrapping Niles Beach and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, Reno Beach a narrow band running along shore past Magee and Metzger Marsh Wildlife areas to Camp Perry.
Sandusky Bay HAB appears to be breaking up, seen in the same position, no longer a dense presentation but dispersed HABs around the same concentration 700 t0 800 thousand cells per 100 ml. The large localized HAB on the lake side of Cedar Point is still visible, around the 100 thousand cells per 100 ml.
The following observations are based on the image from July 13 unless otherwise noted:
- North Maumee Bay widespread HAB 1 million cells per 100 ml
- Toledo - Maumee Bay widespread HAB from the outlet of Maumee River 500 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toledo - Maumee Bay State Park widespread HAB 100 to 200 thousand cells per 100 ml extending from Niles Beach to Cedar Point
- Mallard Club Marsh Wilderness Area to Cedar Point widespread HAB from shore to 1 to 2 nm miles into open water at 100 to 200 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge widespread HAB wraps from Maumee Bay State Park side around the point to the east side, 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Reno Beach large localized HAB along shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area inland water 2 million cells per 100 ml
- Magee Marsh Wildlife Area narrow band of HAB runs along shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toussaint River narrow band of HAB runs along shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Camp Perry narrow band of HAB runs along shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Port Clinton no HAB noted
- Catawba Island inland water bodies widespread HAB 700 thousand HABs per 100 ml
- Kelleys Island no HAB noted
- South Bass Island no HAB observed
- Middle Bass Island no HAB observed
Sandusky Bay:
- Muddy Creek Bay - no HAB activity
- Pickerel Point to Bayview/Route 269 - dispersed open water HABs 700 to 800 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Bay View/Route 269 to Cedar Point - dispersed open water HABs 700 to 800 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Cedar Point - large localized HAB 100 thousand cells per 100 ml south of Cedar Point Rd
Lake Erie east of Sandusky Bay large localized HAB lakeside of the northwest end of Cedar Point 100 to 200 thousand cells per 100 ml
Composited Cyanobacteria Index as reported by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, a visual scale based on true color imagery from the Copernicus- Sentinel 3a satellite of the EUMETSAT Note: Winds above 4.0 mph may begin mixing the bloom and clouds may obscure it, leading to an underestimate of the area. Moderate and low concentrations may not be obvious to the eye.
Twenty-six beach advisories are posted Monday afternoon, down from thirty-four advisories active Friday night. Twenty of the postings are Lake Erie beaches, two high bacterial count advisories are posted for interior Ohio lakes, Crystal Lake and Madison Lake, and four are permanent algal toxin advisories for Grand Lake. Removed from the advisory list over the weekend, Lake Erie's Orchard Beach, Darby Creek, Main Street Beach, Bay View East and West, Lagoons Beach, Huntington Beach, Showse Park, Sherod Park, Nickel Plate and Clifton Beaches, all clear for swimming.
Ohio Department of Health posts advisories based on updated lab test results with e.coli levels above 235 ug/L, or based on predictive modeling. Beach advisories based on predictive modeling may display e.coli test results well below the threshold 235 ug/L.
The following list are the beaches with active advisories, e.coli test results are being added as they come in, check back for the latest results.
Bacteria Contamination Advisory High Bacteria Level confirmed by lab testing
Lake Erie Beaches
- Sawmill Creek - Erie County - advisory issued 849 am July 12 2024, e.coli 410.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 11
- Camp Perry - Ottawa County - advisory issued 230 pm July 12 2024, e.coli 344.8 cfu per 100 ml measured July 11
- Catawba Point Association - Ottawa County - advisory issued 1049 am July 10 2024 based on predictive modeling, e.coli 71.2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Lakeview Beach - Lorain County - advisory issued 1144 am July 11 2024, e.coli 1119.9 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Century Beach - Lorain County - advisory issued 1142 am July 11 2024, e.coli 365.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Arcadia Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 1036 am July 9, 2024 for e.coli 517 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Lions Park - Erie County - advisory issued 847 am July 8, 2024 for e.coli 435.2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 8
- Whites Landing - Ottawa County - advisory issued 851 am July 10, 2024 for e.coli 1413.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Waterfront II Condominium - Ottawa County - advisory issued 115 pm July 10, 2024 for e.coli 261.3 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Beachfront Resort, LLC - Ottawa County - advisory issued 122 pm July 10, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Maumee Bay State Park (Inland) - Lucas County - advisory issued 315 pm July 10, 2024 for e.coli 2496.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10 ** note presence of widespread HAB in the area**
- Lakeshore Park - Ashtabula County - advisory issued 306 pm July 9, 2024 for e.coli 1300 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Lake Front Park - Erie County - advisory issued 852 am July 10, 2024 for e.coli 1202.3 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Headlands State Park - Erie County - advisory issued 828 am July 11, 2024 based on a predictive model, e.coli 2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Maumee Bay State Park (Erie) - Lucas County - advisory issued 1106 am July 11, 2024 , e.coli 686.7 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Lakewood Beach Park - Lorain County - advisory issued 1145 am July 11, 2024 e.coli 1046.2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Bay Point (Market) Beach - Ottawa County - advisory issued 1057 am July 11, 2024 e.coli 648.8 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Heidelberg Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 854 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 517.2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Port Clinton(Deep-Lakeview) - Ottawa County - advisory issued 1137 am July 11, 2024 based on predictive modeling e.coli 22.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Beulah Beach - Erie County - Ottawa County - advisory issued 854 am July 10, 2024 based on predictive modeling e.coli 1553.1 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
Interior Ohio Beach Advisories
- Crystal Lake Club - Crystal Lake - Summit - advisory issued 348 pm July 10, 2024 e.coli 1733 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Madison Lake - Madison County advisory issued 1255 pm July 12, 2024 e.coli 749 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
Algal Toxin Advisories
- Grand Lake - St Marys Main East Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory issued 315 pm June 5 for algal bloom toxin - July 2 microcystins 14.1 ug/L up from 3.4 ug/L on June 25
- Grand Lake - St Marys - Windy Point - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 July 2 microcystins 14.7 ug/L up from 13.4 on June 25.
- Grand Lake - Main West Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 July 2 microcystins 17.6 ug/L up from 9.2 ug/L on June 25.
- Grand Lake - St. Mary's Camp - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024, July 2 microcystins 13.9 ug/L up from 3.4 ug/L June 25
Removed from the active advisory list over the weekend
- Orchard Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 855 am July 10 2024, e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Darby Creek - Erie County - advisory issued 855 am July 10, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 9
- Main Street Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 856 am July 10, 2024 for e.coli 579.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Bay View West - Erie County - advisory issued 1107 am July 9, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Bay View East - Erie County - advisory issued 846 am July 8, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Lagoons Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 857 am July 10, 2024 for e.coli 260.3 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Huntington Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 846 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 2190 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Showse Park - Erie County - Ottawa County - advisory issued 857 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 410.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Sherod Park Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 856 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 816.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Nickel Plate Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 852 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 344.8 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
- Clifton Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 914 am July 10, 2024 e.coli 342 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
Ohio BeachGuard is a public facing app displaying active advisories for recreational water bodies, including high bacteria advisories and toxic algae advisories. Sampling is done by County Health, water utilities or Ohio Department of Natural Resources with advisories issued and lab test results reported by the Ohio Department of Health. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency oversees standard testing of raw water sources for bacterial and cyanotoxin levels in water to be treated for drinking. OEPA and ODNR, Ohio DOH publish test results for drinking water and recreational water separately, even on the same water body. WT tracks bacterial and cyanotoxin values from both the recreational BeachGuard and Ohio Drinking Water Watch.
Toxic algae advisories indicate avoid all contact with the water. Algal toxins have been found at unsafe levels. Swimming and wading are not recommended. Keep pets away.
For more information check Ohio State resources here
or call 1-866-644-6224
Western Basin Lake Erie National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
HABS Hazardous Algae Blooms
Get informed and stay safe around the water this summer
WaterToday collects algal bloom monitoring information from state and federal agencies including but not limited to the CDC, EPA, NOAA and state public health authorities.
HABs alerts are posted on our state maps according to the best available information reported by citizen groups, universities, state and/or federal monitoring agencies.
Before you head out to the beach, pond or stream, check with local authorities to confirm the latest HABs conditions.
Consider carrying a rapid test kit for micro-cystin, the most common of the cyanobacteria toxins.
Sources for algal bloom data:
National Centres for Coastal Ocean Science
A department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NCCOS provides harmful algal bloom forecasting for certain water bodies and regions including:
West Basin Lake Erie https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-western-lake-erie-basin/
Lake Pontchartrain https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-lake-pontchartrain-la/
The forecasting is based on true color imagery provided by OLCI sensors on Copernicus Sentinel-3a satellite of the EUMETSAT group
Environmental Protection Agency Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)
The mission of the CyAN project is to support the environmental management and public use of U.S. lakes and estuaries by providing a useful and accessible approach to detecting and quantifying algal blooms and related water quality using satellite data records.
What is CyAN: Mobile and web-based application for cyanobacteria monitoring
How does it work? Users can enter the coordinates or name of local water bodies for monitoring information.
The CyAN project officially started October 1, 2015. It provided continental U.S. coverage using the Envisat MERIS archive from 2002-2012
Sign up here: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/cyanobacteria-assessment-network-application-cyan-app
Centers for Disease Control
Environmental Public Health Tracking provides data and information on health outcomes, the environment, population, and exposures, including hazardous algal blooms occurring in water bodies of the USA, both freshwater and marine.
CDC Public Notice on Hazardous Algae Blooms
It is not possible to know if a large growth, or bloom, of algae or cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) is harmful just by looking at it. Some blooms make toxins (poisons), which can still be in the water even when you can’t see a bloom. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful algae and cyanobacteria, what to do if you or a pet is exposed to them, and how to help prevent these blooms.
Swimming and Wading: Stay out of water with a bloom, rinse off if you or your pets are in contact with water
If you see signs of a bloom, stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water. Do not fish, swim, boat, or play water sports in areas where this is possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria.
Do not go into or play in water that:
- Smells bad
- Looks discolored
- Has foam, scum, algal mats, or paint-like streaks on the surface
- Has dead fish or other animals washed up on its shore or beach
Protect your pets and livestock from getting sick by keeping them away from water with possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria. Do not let animals:
- Get in the water
- Drink the water
- Lick or eat mats of cyanobacteria or algae
- Eat or graze near the water
- Eat dead fish or other animals on the shore
- Go on the beach or shoreline
If you or your pets do go in water that may have a bloom, rinse yourself and your pets immediately afterward with tap water from a sink, shower, hose, or outdoor spigot. Do not let pets lick their fur until they have been rinsed. Pets may have harmful algae, cyanobacteria, or related toxins on their fur if they swim or play in water with a bloom.
Do not fill pools with water directly from lakes, rivers, or ponds. The water could contain algal or cyanobacterial toxins or unsafe levels of germs.
Drinking Water:
Follow local guidance about toxins in tap water
If you are notified of cyanobacteria or their toxins in your public drinking water supply, follow guidance from your local or state government or water utility to reduce the chances of you or your animals getting sick.
Harmful cyanobacteria may grow in water bodies that supply tap water. Although many water treatment plants can remove these toxins, tap water can be contaminated in certain situations. Cyanobacteria can also produce substances that are not harmful, but can change the taste or smell of tap water.
If you have concerns about the appearance, smell, or taste of tap water that you are using, contact your water utility or health department. Consider using bottled water for drinking and cooking until the problem is resolved.
Don’t boil water contaminated with toxins. Boiling water does not remove toxins and can concentrate the toxin.
Fish and shellfish:
Be aware of advisories and health risks related to eating contaminated fish and shellfish
Avoid eating very large reef fish (such as grouper or amberjack), especially the head, gut, liver, or roe (eggs). Large reef fish may be contaminated with ciguatoxin, the algal toxin that causes ciguatera fish poisoning. See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance for more information on reef fish associated with unsafe levels of toxins.
Check for and follow local shellfish and fish advisories before eating any fish or shellfish you collect yourself. Algal and cyanobacterial toxins in fish or shellfish have no taste or odor. Cooking or preserving food does not remove toxins. Thus, you cannot tell if the seafood is safe by just looking at, smelling, or tasting it.
- Check to see if shellfish beds are closed. State shellfish control authorities (usually state health departments or other state agencies) are required to control for toxins where harmful algal blooms are likely to occur and toxins could build up in shellfish. Common ways state authorities control for algal toxins include routine monitoring for toxic algae or shellfish and testing shellfish for toxins before or after harvesting. If levels of toxins are unsafe, state authorities will close the area for shellfish harvesting until shellfish are safe to eat.
- Check safety advisories from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fish and Shellfish Advisories and Safe Eating Guidelines website.
Report any concerns to your local public health authorities.
EPA notice to the public on harmful algae
Harmful algal blooms can be green, blue, red or brown. They can be scummy or look like paint on the surface of the water.
What are harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies.
What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms can:
- Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals
- Create dead zones in the water
- Raise treatment costs for drinking water
- Hurt industries that depend on clean water
The EPA has a role in enforcing environmental protection regulations to limit discharges into water bodies that contribute to the growth of harmful algal blooms.
The EPA also maintains list of Impaired Water Bodies by state, those water bodies that are not supporting their ideal uses for recreation, including swimming, fishing and wading. The EPA works with state authorities to identify water bodies that are not supporting their intended recreational uses, to set daily maximum loads for contaminants and nutrient load for impaired water bodies. The EPA works with state and other federal agencies to investigate and prosecute violations of the Clean Water Act, with a role in ordering watershed plans that limit discharges to these water bodies to allow for recovery.
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