Lake Erie

Lake Erie’s harmful algae bloom season is over for the year, and it wasn’t as bad as scientists expected.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranks this year’s algae bloom as relatively mild, a 3.6 on the agency’s bloom severity scale. That’s compared to an eight last year.

The forecast in July predicted the bloom would be significant – a six.

Researchers have made a startling discovery in Lake Erie -- two species of exotic zooplankton that originally hail from the southern hemisphere.

About 40 people testified last week at a public hearing on a potential offshore wind farm in Lake Erie.

The majority of people who spoke at Cleveland City Hall presented favorable testimony to the Ohio Power Siting Board, which will take public comments into account before deciding whether to certify the project. The board's staff recently released a report endorsing the project; it included 34 recommendations for the developer.

Many are heading to the beach to escape the hot temperatures this summer, only to find the water is closed. Now, a group of researchers is trying out a new method that could deliver water testing results faster.