Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Subteam

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when simple photosynthetic organisms that live in the sea and freshwater grow out of control and produce toxic and/or harmful chemicals that harm land organisms, aquatic organisms, and ecosystems. The HABs in fresh and marine waters are usually very different, but they overlap in low salinity estuaries (places where rivers meet the sea). 

HABs have been reported across the world, and their occurrence is on the rise. HABs affect not only the health of people and marine ecosystems, but also the "health" of local and regional economies.

Join the HABs Webinar on Rights of Nature: Saving Lake Erie with Sean Nestor!

Taking place May 9th at 8pm EST

Please join the Sierra Club Grassroots Network Toxics Team: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) SubTeam as we welcome Sean Nestor who will speak about an attempt to secure for Lake Erie the Rights of Nature, a legal instrument that would have enabled Lake Erie to have inherent rights and legally the same protection as people and corporations; that Lake Erie have legal rights to exist, thrive and regenerate. Rights of Nature is a new approach to governance being explored by several nations which is designed to overcome the pitfalls of relying on regulatory bodies for environmental protection.

Register in advance here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrde6qrzMtGNZw3AZx8JnFw65FUCbKx2Sa#/registration

Rights of Nature: Saving Lake Erie

Nutrient Pollution

Nutrient pollution occurs when there is too much nitrogen and phosphorus in an aquatic ecosystem. The primary sources for these nutrients include agriculture, stormwater, waste water, and home landscaping. When a water system is overloaded with too...

HABs Mitigation

Since excess nutrients from either point (a single identifiable origin) or nonpoint (runoff) sources enter waterways, their control is the best method for reducing the presence of algal blooms. Decreasing the amount of nutrients from agricultural...