University of Alberta ecologist David Schindler has
reviewed data from studies of controlling human-caused algae blooms in
lakes and says controlling the input of the nutrient phosphorus is the
key to fighting the problem.
Recent short-term algae studies claim that controlling the human
input of both nitrogen and phosphorus into lakes must be reduced to
control summer algae blooms.
In contrast, Schindler concluded that only phosphorus control is
necessary after reviewing long-term lake experiments and case histories
of lakes where nutrients have been controlled.
Schindler estimates that the cost of controlling just the phosphorus
input alone would be as much as 90-per-cent less than trying to control
both phosphorus and nitrogen.
Possible sources of phosphorus to lakes are from sewage, agriculture, runoff from lawns, gardens and septic tanks.
Much of Schindler's critical evidence comes from long-term
experiments, some lasting 40 years, in the Experimental Lakes Area in
northwestern Ontario. The Federal government recently announced that it
would shut the ELA down in March of 2013
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