Deadly blue-green algae

Photo: Reuters

A recent story published in The Atlantic discusses the rise in toxic blue-green algae:

"Every summer, as temperatures rise, "blooms" of cyanobacteria like the one in Grand Lake St. Marys develop in lakes and rivers across the country, turning waters intense green and coating swaths of their surfaces with putrid-smelling blue-green algae that looks like pea soup. The blooms occur in nearly every state, peaking in August and September. Though no national agency tracks the blooms, experts say they are getting worse, driven by fertilizer and manure run-off into lakes and streams combined with a warming climate."  http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/blue-green-algae-iridescent-but-deadly/261794/

Even the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington DC is clogged with algae. The algae appeared less than a month after the re-opening of the pool following a $34 million renovation. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/stories/algae-clogs-newly-renovated-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-in-dc

Photo of Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool: Politico

More info. on cyanobacteria/blue-green algae: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria