RALEIGH, N.C. — People and animals enjoying North Carolina’s beautiful lakes this summer need to be aware of toxic algae blooms, scientists warn.
What You Need to Know
Algae blooms can appear in water when there are increased nutrients, no water flow or hotter temperatures
Not all blooms are harmful, but some can produce toxins
Scientists test water samples from all across the state to determine when it is unsafe to swim
Most algae are an important part of water ecosystems
Dan Wiltsie spends much of his day in the algae lab. He looks through samples from bodies of water all across North Carolina to see if they have any toxic algae in them.
Not all algae are dangerous, especially in small amounts. That’s why there is a reporting system. When people see an algae bloom, which often looks like spilled paint on the water, they can let Wiltsie and his team know through their website.
“They’re in almost all water bodies,” Wiltsie said. “They form the base of all aquatic food webs. They actually produce, I think, like 50% of the oxygen on the planet. They provide food and shelter for aquatic organisms. So, they're very important to have in the water.”
Wiltsie has always been interested in science and being around the water.
“The really cool thing about it is just how different they all look under the microscope,” Wiltsie said. “I mean, like I said, we just looked at this. It would just look like a clean, you know, drop of water with nothing in it. But then you look under the microscope and you can see all these different life forms that have all these different, you know, shapes and sizes and everything."
Algae are an important part of our ecosystems, but they only bloom when there is an increased amount of nutrients, no water flow or hotter temperatures.
Wiltsie and his fellow scientists are here to keep people safe and let them know when they should stay out of the water. Algae blooms can go away in a couple days, or it may take a couple months. Visit their website to report a bloom or see if there are any blooms in your area.
As Wiltsie says, "When in doubt, stay out."