by James Ehlers

Blue-green algae is a cyanobacteria capable of producing neurotoxins and liver toxins. And the problem is growing rapidly as politicians accelerate development and fail to regulate polluters like industrial dairy, ignoring the basic ecological principle of watershed carrying capacity.

Remember, clear conditions, despite the assurances of ignorant or compromised public officials, do not guarantee safe conditions for either animal or human, particularly children, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system. 

Neuro- and liver toxins are produced when the cyanobacteria outbreak’s visible indicators, like surface slime, disappear. Not always, of course, but Vermont’s water quality monitoring is woefully inadequate to ensure the safety of bathers, swimmers, anglers, pets, and paddlers. 

Cyanotoxins are also carried by the water vapor present in the air, meaning it can be inhaled.

The best course of action is to avoid all locations with a history of cyanobacteria outbreaks. Those locations can be found here:
https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/tracking/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae-tracker

For a list of municipalities using our rivers as sewers and our lakes as cesspools, visit: https://anrweb.vt.gov/DEC/WWInventory/SewageOverflows.aspx

The exploitation of ridgelines, mountain slopes, and agricultural soils by energy developers will only exacerbate our growing water quality crisis.

For more information on how you can help protect our waterways from the excessive nutrient loading resulting from development, inadequate wastewater infrastructure, and industrial dairy that fuels cyanobacteria outbreaks contact me at Vermonters for a Clean Environment (VCE) or Lake Champlain International (LCI).