Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) 101 Resources
Compiled by: Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Extension, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and other partners around the state.
Featured resources
- Is it a HAB?
- Michigan Harmful Algal Bloom Picture Guide (slideshow PDF; EGLE, MDHHS)
- EGLE Classroom – Identifying Harmful Algal Blooms/Cyanobacteria (YouTube video; EGLE)
- Harmful Algal Blooms: FAQs (PDF; MDHHS, MDARD, EGLE)
- Harmful Algal Blooms: Pets and livestock (PDF; MDARD)
- Reporting HABs in Michigan
- Send photos to AlgaeBloom@michigan.gov email
- View HABs reports: Michigan HAB reports map (ArcGIS map; MDHHS)
- Harmful Algal Blooms: Prevention and Treatment for Landowners (PDF; North Central Region Water Network Algal Bloom Action Team)
General resources
Webpages/Sites
- Michigan HABs webpage (webpage; EGLE)
- Michigan Harmful Algal Blooms StoryMap (ArcGIS StoryMap, EGLE)
- MI residents soil testing (how much phosphorus and nitrogen is in the soil, is fertilizer needed?)
Fact Sheets
Basics
- Harmful Algal Blooms – What You Should Know (PDF, North Central Region Water Network Algal Bloom Action Team)
- Who Does What? A Guide to Agencies’ Roles in HABs (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- 2021 MI HABs summary (PDF, MDHHS)
- 2022 MI HABs summary (PDF, MDHHS)
Human Health
- Chronic Long-Term Health Effects of HAB Toxins (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- Health Effects Associated with Exposure to HAB Toxins through Aerosolization (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
Pets and Livestock
- Harmful Algal Blooms: Veterinarians (PDF; MDARD)
- Harmful Algal Blooms and their Health-Related Effects on Animals (PDF, North Central Region Water Network Algal Bloom Action Team)
Webinars
- Harmful Algal Blooms in Michigan’s Recreational Waters webinar (YouTube, EGLE)
- Harmful Algal Blooms 101 webinar (YouTube, Michigan Sea Grant)
Deeper dive resources
Webpages/Sites
- What are HABs? (webpage, Ohio Sea Grant)
- Algal Bloom Action Team / Resources (webpage; North Central Region Water Network)
- ITRC’s Strategies for Preventing and Managing Cyanobacterial Blooms
- ITRC’s Strategies for Preventing and Managing Benthic Cyanobacterial Blooms
- National: CDC resources (webpage, CDC)
- National: EPA resources (webpage, EPA)
- HABs online resources list (PDF, CDC)
- MI Natural Shoreline Partnership (webpage, Natural Shoreline Partnership)
- Private drinking water well testing resources:
- EGLE well testing kit process (webpage, EGLE)
- More well-related resources (webpage, MDHHS)
Fact Sheets
Science of HABs
- Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms: Current Knowledge Gaps (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- How Does Nitrogen Affect Harmful Algal Blooms? (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- Phosphorus (P) and HABs: Sources of P from the Maumee River (PDF, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- NOAA GLERL HABs research (PDF, NOAA GLERL)
- CIGLR HABs Hypoxia fact sheet (PDF, CIGLR)
- CIGLR HABs research bookmark (PDF, CIGLR)
Human Health
Webinars
- North Central Region Water Network HABs webinars and virtual research symposium (YouTube channel, NCRWN)
- Great Lakes HABs Collaborative webinars (webpage, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- EPA Research Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia and Nutrients Bimonthly webinar series (webpage, EPA)
Other Tools
- Great Lakes HABs Collaborative Research Mapper (ArcGIS map, Great Lakes HABs Collaborative)
- MI EnviroImpact Tool (decision support tool for short-term manure application planning that shows daily runoff risk across Michigan, MSU Extension and MISG)
- Michigan HABs Risk Dashboard (MSU Extension/MISG articles explaining how to use tool):