lake erie central basin dying?

[gettum]

In the Cleveland Plain Dealer there was a front page article last Friday about the fact that the central basin is not healthy. In fact they were saying that last year they had discovered disturbing signs that it was turning anoxic, and that this year the problem may be getting worse. Apparenlty, the level of phosphates was higher than they had expected, which fed the growth of algae, which in turn were using up the oxygen in the water.
Does anyone have more information on this? I am wondering if this was the reason why so few of us were catching walleye off of Cleveland. On the other hand, I had a great steelhead year, but perhaps they are higher in the water column than the walleye.
gettum

[rebs]

I have heard the same thing about the eastern basin, something to do with low oxygen because of algae or bacteria growth




>In the Cleveland Plain Dealer there was a front page article
>last Friday about the fact that the central basin is not
>healthy. In fact they were saying that last year they had
>discovered disturbing signs that it was turning anoxic, and
>that this year the problem may be getting worse.
>Apparenlty, the level of phosphates was higher than they had
>expected, which fed the growth of algae, which in turn were
>using up the oxygen in the water.
>Does anyone have more information on this? I am wondering
>if this was the reason why so few of us were catching
>walleye off of Cleveland. On the other hand, I had a great
>steelhead year, but perhaps they are higher in the water
>column than the walleye.
>gettum

[ETT]

Sensationalism sells newspapers, negativism sells newspapers. The perch fishing has been better than most can ever remember, and the mayflies are coming back strong!!!

I'll go with mother nature's bio-indicators, and let the Plain Dealer try to tell people whatever they want!!!

The phosphates were a much larger problem in the 60's and they didn't "KILL" the lake then.

[Toolman]

I heard on the radio this morning about Case Western Reserve and the EPA doing some extensive underwater research (beginning today) to study the effects of increasing levels of phosphates and the effects of introduced species into the ecosystem. The scientist interviewed seemed quite concerned about both things. I hope it's nothing major!
Tim

[bob oh]

There is a concern about "dead spots" in the western and central basins just like the much larger dead spots we had when Erie was in trouble. But the information I have read, mostly in newspapers, is that they (the scientists) don't believe that they are caused by phosphate levels (which have been good), but may be tied to our "exotic invaders" who have changed the eco system and lowered oxygen levels.
It doesn't seem like there is any reason to panic yet, but to ignore the situation and pretend like it doesn't exist is also not the prudent thing to do. Thankfully our scientists are already looking into the problem.

[ETT]

Bob,
I surely wasn't promoting ignoring the situation, but when was the last time you heard a scientist say, "we're checking it out, but it's probably no big deal". The more public concern they can create, the easier it is for them to find funding. So again it seems there are reasons for individuals to maximize the negative.

You and I both love that lake and have seen it recover much faster than anyone believed possible. I was just trying to slow down some of the possible over-reaction.

Very few care more about what is really going on than I, but it's too bad they have to use these measures. If they cry wolf too many times, noone will pay attention, when it really matters.

[bob oh]

Sorry Jim, didn't really aim that at you but I have read the reports and they are concerned about oxygen-depleted zones. Didn't think you were saying to ignore things, just don't over react, which I agree with. Just so we don't let them ignore it until it is a repeat of the 60s. I don't have enough time left to go through that again :-) I didn't like the crack about newspapers, but I make cracks about stuff too :-)
Actually I thought there were all kinds of dead zones out there Saturday (well I guess they were sheephead zones) :-) :-)

[Erie]

Jim .. I agree "slow down some of the possible over-reaction" .. The Central basin has had simular problems on & off many years ago before the pollution problems of the 50-60s according to studies .. I'm glad it's being looked into for possible answers & glad it's not a large scale problem. In the meantime .. let's "Hang a Hog" & let the scientists look into this small scale problem & see if they can come up with some answers to help Erie in the future .. Just a Ole' Farts thoughts :-)

Ray

[Tim FRick]

The basic facts were that there was a algee bloom and when that breaks down and decomposes on the bottom it sucks up all the oxygen. Thus creating a zone that was lacking oxygen enough to support life. This does not happen in the western basin because the water is constantly being stirred up because it's very shallow. Also it doesn't happen in the eastern basin because the water is deep enough to were the oxygen levels never get that low. Central just as the right condidtions for this. The experts offered a few suggestions as to why but if you read the last sentence of the story you will see they are not 100% as to why this is happening. Thus we don't even know if this would cause a disruption in the fishing. I fish off cleveland mostly and have notice a decline in eyes during the summer. You were mostly getting them off lorain sandbar or eastlake. Of course if you were a fish I think you would like the structure more off the sandbar verses no structure off cleveland. IT goes back to that Lake Erie is like most things in mother nature, just when you thought you figured her out she throws a curveball.
Good Luck!!
Tim FRick