September 28, 2017

John Bratton (senior scientist) and Greg Cutrell (project scientist) were interviewed by Toledo television affiliate ABC TV13 about LimnoTech’s contributions to improve monitoring, predicting, and reducing the impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Lake Erie. John and Greg talked to ABC TV13 meteorologist, Bob Cathey, about how we are helping drinking water utilities in Toledo and other cities that draw their water from Lake Erie to respond to changing conditions during algal blooms. LimnoTech’s efforts include research on HAB formation in an effort to better understand their occurrence and what can be done to help reduce the size and frequency of future blooms.

To watch the ABC TV13 news story, go to: http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Businesses-fight-to-save-Lake-Erie–448335543.html

LimnoTech is also the only private-sector member of a university-led team that was recently awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve forecasting of HAB toxin production. The grant will fund a study titled, “Linking Process Models and Field Experiments to Forecast Algal Bloom Toxicity in Lake Erie.” In addition to LimnoTech, the team receiving the grant includes The Ohio State University as the lead, along with researchers from Michigan Technological University, University of Toledo, Wayne State University, and Bowling Green State University. The three-year study will involve historical data evaluation to help improve environmental models, making it possible to predict when conditions may become favorable for HABs to produce toxins. Current models can only predict formation and movement of HABs — not their toxicity. The study will produce presentations, publications, and online tools to inform stakeholders of the advances made in understanding HAB toxicity, and guidance to NOAA forecasters and drinking water utilities on incorporating new information and improved forecasting capabilities into their operational systems.

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