The Iowa Great Lakes are seeing an increase in aquatic plants this season. Mike Hawkins, a Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says those include native aquatic plant species such as coontail, sago pondweed and wild water celery, to name a few, which are extremely beneficial to a lake’s ecosystem. While it
Blue-green algae, technically known as cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms that are naturally present in lakes and streams. Typically present at low number, blue-green algae can quickly become abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water rich in nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen. Some blue-green algae produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and