HAB Tracker
from NCCOS satellite monitoring and Ohio BeachGuard
Border HAB spotted by satellite imaging through heavy cloud cover
July 4, 2024 updated July 5 705 am
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 July 4 at 3.5 mph. This image is cloud obscured with one small patch of open water visible midlake around the international border. HAB activity can be seen in that small area, a moderate concentration around 100 thousand cells per 100 ml. The previous clear image was captured July 2 showing the expansion of HAB activity in North Maumee Bay and up the Michigan shoreline, a large HAB mass developing off the shore of Maumee State Park wrapping around the east side of Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge. The widespread HAB filling Sandusky Bay is visible at the high concentration 900 thousand to 1.2 million cells per 100 ml, the highest concentration toward the inside of the bay, and a large open water HAB on the Lake Erie side of Cedar Point.
The following observations are based on the image from July 2:
- North Maumee Bay widespread HAB 700 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toledo - Maumee Bay widespread HAB 2 to 3 nm from mainland 500 thousand cells per 100 ml no HAB activity noted
- Toledo - Maumee Bay State Park widespread HAB approximately 3 nm off shore 400 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Mallard Club Marsh Wilderness Area to Cedar Point no HAB noted
- Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge widespread HAB off the east shore of the point 500 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Reno Beach no HAB noted
- Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area no HAB noted
- Magee Marsh Wildlife Area no HAb noted
- Toussaint River no HAB noted
- Camp Perry no HAB noted
- Port Clinton localized HAB near the outlet of Portage River 200 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Catawba Island east side harbor localized HAB 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Kelleys Island partially cloud obscured, no HAB observed
- South Bass Island partially cloud obscured, no HAB observed
- Middle Bass Island partially cloud obscured, no HAB observed
Sandusky Bay:
- Muddy Creek Bay - no HAB activity
- Pickerel Point to Bayview/Route 269 - lakewide, widespread HAB from 1 million to 1.2 million cells per 100 ml
- Bay View/Route 269 to Cedar Point - lakewide, widespread HAB 900 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Cedar Point - widespread HAB 200 thousand cells per 100 ml south of Cedar Point Rd
Lake Erie east of Sandusky Baywidespread HAB band extending 10 to 12 miles lake side of Cedar Point 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.
Fourteen beach advisories are posted Thursday, down from 26 Wednesday. Seven Lake Erie beaches remain on the advisory list for high bacteria levels with no new postings.
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
- Geneva State Park - Erie County - advisory issued 410 pm July 2, 2024 for e.coli 1012 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Kelleys Island State Park - Ottawa County - advisory issued 249 pm am July 2, 2024 for e.coli 365.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Cranberry Creek - Erie County - advisory issued 856 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 344.8 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Darby Creek - Erie County - advisory issued 857 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 579.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Pickerel Creek - Erie County - advisory issued 838 am June 28, 2024 for e.coli 275.5 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Bay View West - Erie County - advisory issued 839 am June 28, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Lakeshore Park - Ashtabula County advisory issued 229 pm June 25, 2024, July 1 e.coli test 1987 cfu per 100 ml
Interior Ohio Beach Advisories
- Isaak Walton League Loveland - Little Miami River - Clermont County advisory issued 417 pm July 2, 2024, July 1 e.coli 590 cfu/100 ml
- Camp Dennison Municipal Park - Little Miami River - Clermont County advisory issued July 2 416 pm - June 25 e.coli 560 cfu/100 ml
- Barkcamp - Belmont County - advisory issued 424 pm June 20, 2024, June 18 e.coli 495 cfu/100 ml
Algal Toxin Advisories
- Grand Lake - St Marys Main East Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory issued 315 pm June 5 for algal bloom toxin - June 18 microcystins 20.7, up from 12.9 ug/L on June 4; June 16 e.coli 67.7 cfu/100 ml
- Grand Lake - St Marys - Windy Point - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 June 18 microcystin 36.4, up from 18.3 ug/L on June 4. Bacterial contamination advisory issued May 20, 2024 June 16 e.coli 24.9 cfu/100 ml.
- Grand Lake - Main West Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 June 18 microcystin 18.5, up from 17.3 ug/L on June 4; June 16, 2024 e.coli 11 cfu/100 ml.
- Grand Lake - St. Mary's Camp - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024, June 18 microcystin 20.4, up from 17.6 ug/L June 4; June 16 e.coli 67.7 cfu/100 ml
Removed from the active advisory list overnight:
- Century Beach - Lorain County - advisory issued 1123 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 488.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Bay Park Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 937 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 345 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Orchard Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 857 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 435.2 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Beulah Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 857 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 387.3 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Clifton Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 1002 am July 1, 2024 for e.coli 326 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Sherod Park Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 837 am June 27, 2024 for e.coli 461.1 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Lakeview Beach - Lorain County - advisory issued 110 pm June 28, 2024 for e.coli 275.5 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Community Park Beach - Lorain County - advisory issued 112 pm June 28, 2024 for e.coli 866.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 1
- Arcadia Beach - Cuyahoga County advisory issued 1009 am June 25, 2024, June 27 e.coli test 2092 cfu per 100 ml
- Columbia Park Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 904 am June 24, 2024, July 1 e.coli 326 cfu, down from 1733 cfu/100 ml June 26
- Silver Lake Estates - Silver Lake - Summit County advisory issued 339 pm June 26, 2024, June 25 e.coli 260 cfu/100 ml
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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