What are Algae Blooms?
What are Algae Blooms?
Algae blooms appear when there is a rapid increase in the population of algae in a body of water, often turning the water to colors other than clear. Â Blue-green algae blooms happen when a species of cyanobacteria gets into water and becomes abundant. Due to high temperatures, large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus levels and fertilizer runoff, the blue-green algae blooms have become increasingly more common. Normally, with the cold winters in Utah, all the algae blooms are killed. However, with the rising temperatures and more mild winters, algae blooms have been able to survive, causing a multi-year build up of blue-green algae blooms in the lake. Â The high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake provide access to large amounts of nutrients, which causes the blue-green algae to thrive.
Why are they dangerous?
As the populations of algae and cyanobacteria increase, so does the quantity of toxins released. Not only do these toxins contaminate the water but they also form a hazard for anyone who consumes fish from the contaminated water. These toxins can be dermatoxins, hepatotoxins, and neurotoxins, which can cause rashes, liver failure, and brain damage.  Both animals  and humans are affected by the different cyanobacteria.  Combined, these dangers often force the government to close the lake to the public, damaging the fishing economy and increasing public health concerns.
How to stop them?
Our plan is to outcompete the cyanobacteria with Chlorella sp., which is a harmless green algae. Â The Chlorella would use up the nitrogen and phosphorus that the cyanobacteria use to grow, stunting the progression of the blue-green algae.