Deadly Bacteria Is a Growing Threat to Beach Vacations Across the US
Climate change is warming once-cool lakes and reservoirs, fueling a rise in dangerous bacteria outbreaks and algae blooms.
A boat motors through green water during a harmful algal bloom at Lake Elsinore, California.
Photographer: David McNew/Getty ImagesBeating the heat in the US is a little harder this summer than it used to be: E. coli and cyanobacteria are causing widespread beach closures at lakes and rivers. It’s a problem exacerbated by climate change-fueled warmer waters and more prolific downpours, which are creating perfect conditions for bacteria to flourish.
Bacteria tend to grow in warm conditions and between 1985 and 2009, lakes and ponds warmed at a rate of roughly 0.6F (0.3C) per decade. That shift is increasing the risk of blooms in historically cold places. The bacteria can cause a host of symptoms, including blisters, rashes, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and liver damage, to name a few. Outbreaks can also tax ecosystems.