Green lakes could mean less green for coastal tourism. . . Learn more:
Photo Credit: NASA Earth Observatory / Landsat
Lake Erie generates billions of dollars in tourism each year. So when a harmful algal bloom makes the lake unsafe for swimming or fishing, it’s bad for resorts like Lakeside Chautauqua.
“We’ve got about a mile of shoreline on the ground, so we refer to it as Ohio’s most beautiful mile,” says Kevin Sibbring, CEO of Lakeside Chautauqua.
He says harmful algae kept guests off the beach and out of the water for a time in 2015.
“We had our beach and water access closed for 14 days that summer,” continues Sibbring.
The next year, fewer people came to the resort, and Sibbring blames the algae.
So preventing algal blooms is not just important for the ecosystem, it’s also important for tourism.
Get Schooled:
- Learn more about the root of the problem from Lake Erie Algae.
- Hear about preventative measures from the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
Hear More:
Listen to Kevin Sibbring discuss the learning opportunities at Lakeside Chautauqua.
Watch More:
Jeff Reutter, Ohio Sea Grant College Program Director, discusses the cause and effect of the 2011 algal bloom on PBS NewsHour.
The fine print:
- CurrentCast is produced in partnership with Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. Learn more at http://www.currentcast.org.
