algal blooms

Group calls for national standard to monitor algal blooms

By Veronica Volk • Aug 8, 2019

With harmful algal blooms posing an increasing risk to freshwater sources across the country, one group is looking for better ways to track them.

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit that looks at environmental factors affecting public health.

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1:21

The Environmental Working Group wants a standardized monitoring system across the U.S. to better inform the public about harmful algal blooms.

What do we really know about what causes harmful algal blooms?

By Veronica Volk • Jul 31, 2019

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3:55

What do we really know about what causes harmful algal blooms? As WXXI’s Veronica Volk tells us, New York state scientists are trying to find out.

Lewis McCaffery stands on a dock looking out over Seneca Lake.

"Sometimes while you’re doing this job, you do think, 'Wow, I am the luckiest guy to be paid to go out on the lake.' Even though there are some problems on the lake, it’s still wonderful to be out there."

The problems McCaffery is referring to are what he is here to test for.