NASA Satellite Photo Reveals Popular Californian Lake is Turning Toxic

On May 15, NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite captured a striking image of Clear Lake in Northern California. The lake’s vibrant green hue, visible from space, unveiled a surprising and massive green growth, a phenomenon not seen before.

Clear Lake, situated about 120 miles north of San Francisco, is the oldest lake in North America. Estimates suggest it could be approximately 500,000 years old.

Clear Lake supports a diverse ecosystem, including numerous bird species, such as pelicans and bald eagles, and plays an integral role in keeping their population numbers high. 

Clear Lake frequently experiences significant algae blooms due to its warm, shallow waters, which provide an ideal breeding ground for algae.

The bright green hue observed in Clear Lake is primarily caused by cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.

Excess nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, from agricultural runoff and other human activities, lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Some algae in Clear Lake produce toxins like microcystin, which pose serious health risks to humans and wildlife. Microcystin can be quite harmful, causing everything from skin irritation to liver damage, and even leading to kidney failure if ingested.

While its well-known farms, septic systems, and mines can negatively affect large bodies of water that lie in close proximity to them, NASA believes this has exacerbated the decay of the lake’s water. 

Algal blooms can significantly impact aquatic life by depleting dissolved oxygen levels in the water. This creates a hostile environment for fish and invertebrates, potentially leading to their asphyxiation.

Lake County officials note that blue-green algae blooms have been a part of Clear Lake’s natural history since the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago.

Algal blooms in Clear Lake have significant ecological and recreational implications. Due to health risks, residents and tourists are often advised to avoid water activities such as swimming and fishing during blooms.

Due to the potential dangers associated with cyanobacteria, County, tribal, and health officials have all urged those who decide to swim in California’s second-largest freshwater body to be extra vigilant. 

Over 500 homes in the vicinity of Lake County draw water from Clear Lake. In light of the increased level of algae, officials have advised homeowners to fill up their water supply from stations in Kelseyville or Clear Lake in the meantime. 

According to Sarah Ryan, environmental director for the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians Environmental Protection Department, the lake’s toxicity is close to an all-time high, but it has seen some improvement. 

Researchers who monitor the lake are still worried that Clear Lake may experience further outbreaks of algae, which could lower the toxicity level to the dangerous levels witnessed last year. 

It appears officials such as Ryan need not worry, as according to locals living close to Clear Lake, the horrid stench of the algae is enough to keep most people out of the water. 

Coddington is worried about the tourists who have traveled to the region to stay in Airbnb and have not been informed about the dangers of the algae-ridden lake. 

For two consecutive years, Clear Lake’s algae levels have become so toxic that residents are unable to use the water in their homes. However, this problem has remained persistent for several decades. 

Health officials agree with NASA’s opinion that farming plays a significant role in increased toxicity. Fertilizers that run into the lake contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which have exacerbated the growth of the algae. 

Clear Lake’s challenges with algal blooms are not unique. Similar issues have been observed in other large bodies of water, such as Lake Winnipeg in Canada and Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

Across the United States, around 70 rivers, lakes and reservoirs have been forced to issue cautions and warnings due to the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and algae this year. 

As climate change progresses and nutrient levels rise, the frequency and severity of algal blooms are expected to increase. This highlights the need for concerted efforts to protect water quality and public health.

Efforts to mitigate algal blooms involve managing nutrient inputs from agricultural and urban sources, monitoring water quality, and raising public awareness about the potential health risks.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology and scientists from several other universities have been working on ways to reduce the intensity at which the algae spreads.