Harmful algal blooms, once considered mainly a problem in salt
water, have been appearing with increasing severity in the
Madison lakes, and a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison
researchers has geared up to understand the when, where and why
of these dangerous "blooms." No longer just a smelly, unsightly
nuisance, the masses of blue-green algae can also exude toxins
that attack the liver or nervous system. One day, it may be
possible to issue "algae forecasts" modeled on predictions of
severe storms, says Katherina McMahon, a professor of civil
engineering and bacteriology on campus. Eventually, she says,
the results of research at UW-Madison could lead to a forecast:
"Given the conditions today, we estimate an 85 percent chance of
toxic blue-green algae tomorrow." Toxic blue-green algae are
also becoming more problematic in many inland waters, including
the Great Lakes. Currently, health authorities monitor several
beaches on the Madison lakes and issue warnings when they detect
the characteristic blue-