As Climate Warms, Blue-Green Algae Spread Through Quebec's Waterways

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Global warming has been blamed for extreme weather, holes in the ozone layer and melting polar ice caps. Now it's being linked to blue-green algae, the microscopic plants that are contaminating Quebec lakes and rivers. The warmer temperatures experienced during the past decade are the likely X factor behind the profusion of the algae, Quebec government biologist Sylvie Blais said this week. "Blue-green algae blooms prefer warmer temperatures," she said.

Blue-green algae contaminated 43 Quebec lakes and rivers in 2004 and wreaked havoc in 50 more last year, Blais said. This year's count of Quebec waterways shut down by the algae will be complete only in November. There are predictions this year's total will be higher than last year's. "It's a problem that is getting worse everywhere," Blais said, noting Lake Massawippi in the Eastern Townships, which was hard hit this week, is by no means alone.

This month, blue-green algae closed Lac Archambault in the Mont Tremblant tourist area to swimmers and boaters. Lac St. Joseph, a favourite of cottagers in the Quebec City area, had an outbreak this summer.

Just across the U.S. border, communities along the Vermont side of Lake Champlain have had trouble with toxic algae in bays and inlets. Cyanobacteria, as blue-green algae are also known to scientists, are also evident in waterways throughout the rest of Canada and in the United States.

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