Nutrient Overload in Colorado’s Waterways

With all the recent news of harmful blue green algae blooms, it may be helpful to have a better grasp of what they are, how to spot a bloom and how to prevent them in the future. 

Algal blooms, also known as Blue Green Algae, are commonly found in Colorado waters. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, natural parts of our aquatic ecosystem, support the growth of aquatic plants and algae. These plants provide food and shelter for critters like crawdads, fish, and several macroinvertebrates found in our Colorado watersheds. But with too much of anything comes a problem, in this case it causes nutrient pollution. Overabundance of nutrients causes algae to grow rapidly, choking out the oxygen in the ecosystem, and can cause an increase in toxins and bacterial growth. Not only can this be harmful to the aquatic ecosystem, but can also be harmful to people and animals. 

Below are a few tips to ensure the safety of you, your family and pets. 
​